The Name Bartemius (was: Not So Faithful (was: Re: The Imperius Curse

[Jim Flanagan]

No: HPFGUIDX 3022

> > Bartemius (or Bartimeus or Bartimaeus) was the blind man healed
> > by Jesus.  I suspect that JKR has been studying her New Testament.
> 
> Thanks. What did JKR mean by it? I doesn't seem to me that either 
> Crouch was cured of blindness, even metaphorically.
> 

It's been widely noted that JKR makes a seemingly conscious 
effort to name many of her characters using either classical 
allusions, "sound-alike" English words, or words borrowed from other 
languages.  For example:

Malfoy - bad faith (Fr.)
Draco - dragon; draconian (Gr.)
Severus - severe (Latin roots)
Slitherin, Snape - allusions to "snake" or snake-like characteristics
Minerva - goddess of wisdom, etc.
Remus Lupin - wolf references (L.)
Peeves - "annoying"
Nagini - a kind of small cobra (Sanskrit)
Sirius - Sirius is "the dog star" -- hence Sirius Black's alter ego
Albus Dumbledore - "white bumblebee" (Latin / Old English) - 
appropriate because of the white beard and his potent "sting"
Voldemort - "flight of death" (Fr.) (or vol- from L. "wish") [a 
few HP websites have stated that a certain "Voldemortis" was an 
ancient enemy of Merlin; however I have not been able to substantiate 
this.]

At any rate, it seems that "blind" could be appropriate for both 
Bartemius Sr and Jr. Additionally, the New Testament Bartimeus 
decided to follow Jesus after his sight was restored.  I see the 
following parallels:

Crouch Sr was blinded by hatred and ambition.  He was blind to his 
family, which drove his son into the arms of HWMNBN.  He was also 
responsible for jailing Sirius Black "blindly" without an adequate 
trial. His "sight" was restored when he shook off the Imperius Curse 
and he went to Hogwarts; but it was too late, and he was killed 
before he could speak to Dumbledore.

Jr was perhaps blinded by his hatred of the Death Eaters who didn't 
go to Azkaban but resumed their normal lives after YKW's downfall. 
His sight was (metaphorically) restored to him after he overcame the 
Imperius Curse cast by his father. However, Jr wasn't able to follow 
his Lord for very long before he was betrayed by a kiss from one of 
V's other disciples.  

How's that for post hoc logic?

- Jim Flanagan (Irish Gaelic, "ruddy")