Book 5 Title Meanings - symbolism

[Blaise]

No: HPFGUIDX 4257

--- In HPforGrownups at egroups.com, "Sister Mary Lunatic" <klaatu at p...> 
wrote:

> And now the working title of "Order of the Phoenix" suggests to me 
> that perhaps Harry is going to go somewhere ('a whole new area,     
> physically... a magical world'} to receive specialized training and 
> perhaps be inducted into a secret magical society.  Perhaps his    
> parents were members, as well as all of Dumbledore's "old gang" -- 
> a sort of "counterpart" to the Death Eaters. This would lead to the 
> explanations (finally!) of what his parents (and others) were doing 
> that made them a target for Voldemort.

I like this interpretation, not least because I used the phoenix in 
my fanfic as the symbol of the League Against Voldemort!  Trying to 
pre-empt JKR is still part of the fun of fanfiction.    

What's special about phoenixes in JKR's world?  I think it's this we 
have to look at rather than other external meanings of a phoenix.  
So, we have healing tears, immense strength, complete and utter 
loyalty and of course the life-death-rebirth cycle as the symbolic 
attributes of the Order of the Phoenix.    

The loyalty is especially important, I think.  I would suggest that a 
member of the Order of the Phoenix would definitely hold loyalty as 
one of the most important virtues (c.f. Peg's essays on loyalty). 

Healing tears.  Stretching it a bit, perhaps, but possibly the OP 
believes that by its actions it will heal the world of the troubles 
caused by Voldie.

The immense strength - well, if the OP is Dumbledore's group 
dedicated to fighting Voldie, we can hope that it does have this 
strength!  

And finally the central idea of a phoenix, that it may die in flames 
but it is reborn again from the ashes.  Clear symbolism of 
perseverance, hope and indeed of victory.  

That's my interpretation of the Order of the Phoenix, anyway.  Though 
knowing my luck it'll turn out Lori with her restaurant order is 
right!   

-Blaise.