[HPforGrownups] Re: Titles, Prince Ombra (was: Re: Title of 5, Hagrid's House, another question)

[Peg Kerr]

No: HPFGUIDX 4323

Dave Hardenbrook wrote:

> At 09:24 AM 10/21/00 +0100, Nick Mitchell wrote:
> >I'm one of those that preferred "The Doomspell Tournament" to GoF.
>
> Actually, _HP and the Triwizard Tournament_ would have been a
> better title, IMHO.  The Stone, the Chamber of Secrets, and Sirius
> were all pivotal to the plots of their respective books, but the Goblet
> serves its purpose early on and then disappears.

I've heard other people make this point, and I'm not so sure.  The Goblet
was the object of destiny, if you will, which set everything in motion for
the climactic events at the end of the book.

You know, I think Book IV sets up a lot of thematic stuff swirling around
"if onlys."  When I think about it, it's there in previous books, too.  If
only I hadn't convinced James and Lily to let me switch with Peter, Sirius
says. I'm sure that Snape has an "if only" in his past, too, we have yet to
know about.  If only I hadn't left the cloak at the foot of the Whomping
Willow, Harry thinks, Snape wouldn't have interrupted everything and Sirius
would have been cleared.  If only Peter hadn't betrayed James and Lily in
the first place.

Now, Harry tells himself, if only I hadn't told Cedric to share the cup with
me.  If only I had been able to do something to stop Voldemort from coming
back. If only, if only.

If only Barty Crouch, Jr. hadn't put Harry's name in the Goblet of Fire.

As far as the action of the books to come (happening in response to
Voldemort's new arising) EVERYTHING flows from that.  Including the "if
onlys" which mean the true tests of character.

Look at it this way: Book IV is the middle of the seven books.   The Chapter
entitled "The Goblet of Fire" is Chapter 16 in a 36 chapter book.  The
Goblet of Fire, therefore, is the magical object which appears ALMOST
EXACTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SERIES.  The struggle between Voldemort and the
wizards ended in the last generation with the deaths of James and Lily's and
Voldemort's mysterious disincorporation by the young baby Harry.  The Goblet
here signals the start of the new generation's actions which will culminate
with the series' ending (hopefully the final defeat of Voldemort).

It is, as I've said, the object of destiny--like the sword which the young
boy Arthur draws from the stone, or the Apple of Discord thrown among the
three goddesses which leads to the Trojan War.

"Goblet of Fire" reminds me of a crucible, a test of fire which will show
Harry's true "mettle/metal."  As such, it is broader in scope, I think than
simply the Triwizard Tournament.  Harry WAS chosen--in a much broader sense,
for a much wider contest, more fundamental contest, the great war between
Good and Evil.

I think the "Goblet of Fire" is a fine name for the book.

But that's just me, you know.  I tend to see big themes everywhere.

Peg

P.S. Anyone on this list ever read _Prince Ombra_?  Campbell's hero of a
thousand faces, the mythical hero who is endlessly reborn to struggle
against Prince Ombra, the force of darkness is reborn again in today's
world.  The catch is that this time he doesn't get to face his nemesis
before he's fully grown up--he has to face him as a young boy.  His mother
died at birth, and he has a best friend who is a girl, and a mentor like
Dumbledore, a psychiatrist.  The author is Roderick MacLeish.