How Are Wands ALIVE? - Harry Potter Explained

Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re discussing how it is that wands in the wizarding world of Harry Potter are “quasi-sentient”—aka somewhat ALIVE.

Although technically inanimate objects, the wands of witches and wizards in Harry Potter are often thought of as having sentient capabilities, meaning that they are able to consciously observe, react and emote in certain situations. Of course, I’m not suggesting that wands are capable of complex thoughts or even the ability to think in the same way as other magical, sentient items like the Sorting Hat at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. What I AM saying, however, is that wands are not simply sticks made of wood that people wave about in order to produce magic. Quite the contrary. Instead, those who have dedicated their lives to understanding the magical capabilities of wands, such as famed British wandmaker Mr. Garrick Ollivander, have found that when wands are made with high quality materials, they have the ability to actually LEARN, TEACH, and even make choices similar to human beings.

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