[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: DD's defeat of Grindelwald

[Jeremiah LaFleur]

As for his being defeated in 1945 (do we know that he died in the same
year?), I'm sure that's important for Tom Riddle's history, but I
think the WWII connection is also deliberate. Not that Grindelwald is
Hitler--he certainly wouldn't champion a "superrace" of blond
Muggles--but I think we're meant to see an analogy between him (or his
successor, Voldemort) and Hitler. At any rate, I'm as intrigued as you
are by Grindelwald and am curious to find out what JKR will say about
him in DH.

BTW, Grindelwald is a city or town in Switzerland. Someone did a post
on the etymology of the name some time back. I think there's a
connection with Grendel, the monster in Beowulf. Sorry I don't have
time to check into it now.
==========================

Jeremiah:

No worries. I totally agree that JKR probably derived Grindlewald from
Beowulf's Grendle. As for it being a town in Switzerland... lol. That's
ironic, since Switzerland is supposed to be so neutral (though it usually
isn't, really... they just don't fight).

I'll look for that post on the etymology and see what I cn figure out. I was
mostly trying to state that Grindlewald was not Hitler and that I see no
reason to have Hitler have meetings with Grindlewald... and that sort of
thing. It would be a bit much, IMO, to have those types of correlstions so
blatently thrust on the story. However, I'm sure there isn't a coincidence
that the timeperiond correlates with WW2. It was utter darkenss for Europe.

Any hoo!
TTYL, Carol! Enjoy your Snape-Day Celebrations!


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