Rowling speaks of the power of the imagination -- and making a difference

Rowling also received an honorary doctorate from the university.

By Peter Schworm, Globe Staff

CAMBRIDGE -- Author J.K. Rowling, who weaved literary magic with the Harry Potter series, told graduates and faculty -- and, not surprisingly, many children there as guests -- at Harvard's commencement today that the imagination is important for more than just fantasizing about a world of wizards.

Rowling said the ability to imagine what other people are experiencing is uniquely human and such empathy plays a key societal role.

Recalling working in her early 20s at the London headquarters of Amnesty International and hearing of the experiences of political prisoners in totalitarian regimes, she said she learned that "the power of human empathy leading to collective action saves lives and frees prisoners."

"Those who choose not to empathize," she said, "enable real monsters."

In an earnest, personal speech, the British author also told graduates their talents and opportunities carry "unique status and unique responsibilities."

"That is your privilege, and your burden," she said. "If you choose to use your status and influence to raise your voice on behalf of those who have no voice; if you choose to identify not only with the powerful, but with the powerless; if you retain the ability to imagine yourself into the lives of those who do not have your advantages, then it will not only be your proud families who celebrate your existence, but thousands and millions of people whose reality you have helped transform for the better."

"We do not need magic to change the world," she continued. "We carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: We have the power to imagine better."

Rowling began her speech in light-hearted fashion, quipping that the speech was not only a great honor, but had helped her lose weight through the anxiety of delivering it.

"A win-win situation!" she remarked. "Now all I have to do is take deep breaths, squint at the red banners, and fool myself into believing I am at the world's best-educated Harry Potter convention."

Rowling said the memory of her own college graduation speaker -- or rather her lack of memory of it -- was liberating.

"Reflecting on her speech has helped me enormously in writing this one, because it turns out that I can't remember a single word she said," she said to laughter. "This liberating discovery enables me to proceed without any fear that I might inadvertently influence you to abandon promising careers in business, law or politics for the giddy delights of becoming a gay wizard."

"You see? If all you remember in years to come is the 'gay wizard' joke, I've still come out ahead of Baroness Mary Warnock [her commencement speaker]. Achievable goals: the first step towards personal improvement," she added.

Rowling was introduced by Harvard University president Drew Faust, who welcomed "witches, wizards, and muggles of all ages" and with a chuckle said she realized she was "the warm-up act."

Continuing the self-deprecating theme, Faust jested that after less than a year as president, she would not "for a moment claim to have the wisdom, let alone the otherworldly powers, of the inimitable Albus Dumbledore," referring to the beloved wizard who is the headmaster of the Hogwarts school.

Still, Faust welcomed Rowling as Harvard's "muggle-in-chief" and thanked her for "reminding us that reading wonderful books may well be the closest we ever really come to experiencing true magic."

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