Wands and Magical Ability, Part Two

[fourfuries at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 24374

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Herald Talia <heraldtalia at j...> wrote:
> I agree with what both of you are saying about Harry and Voldy 
exept for
> the assertion that Harry and Voldy are fundamentally different 
people
> with similar superficial circumstances. 
> They are exact equal  opposites. Harry is what Voldy could
> be, if he'd give up his vendetta against his father and all Muggles.
> Voldy is what Harry could be, if he joined Slytherin. All of this is
> IMHO, but I really see Harry and Voldy as extremely similar, which I
> think is JKR's point - Dumbledore said, it's all in the choices you 
make.
> 


  Which brings us full circle to the study question: the difference 
between talent and character.  Voldy and Harry have similar talents, 
(as do Dumbledore and Gandalf, to mix two existing threads).  But 
Harry and Voldy have totally different characters.  One believes in 
judicious restraint, the other in unbridled power.  Those are the 
choices that Dumbledore refers to.
  Talent has no meaning outside of what you use it for.  Thus all 
great fantasy literature sets up a protagonist with an improbable 
gift (magic sword, magic ring, magic talent) and then tests that 
person in a series of battles, challenges, and temptations to see 
what is in their soul.
  It is in this regard that fantasy lit resembles real life, and 
becomes so instructive for those of us who enjoy it.  The magic gifts 
are exaggerations (sp?) of the true talents possessed by each of us.  
The trials of our heroes are compelling because they are 
exaggerations of our own everyday trials.

4FR Studious