[HPforGrownups] Re: Animagi/ McGonagall

[Claire Sutton]

No: HPFGUIDX 30488

>From: "Hollydaze" .

>So what does a cat (McGonagall) represent? I feel that this could be a >big 
>clue to McGonagall, especially relating to the discussion from the >weekend 
>that she may be evil. I just can't see a cat as evil or sneaky >etc but I 
>can't think (remember) what cat's represent.

>Does anyone know what cats are supposed to be?



My only suggestion as to what being a cat represents is that in History cats 
have been both revered and feared.  they were considered among the most 
intelligent and mystical animals but also were associated with evil. I would 
prefer to believe that she is represented by a cat because of magical 
ability (the Egyptian view of cats) rather than because of the medieval 
suggestion that cats were evil demon like creatures.

Here is some information I managed to quickly get my hands on that might 
help is work out why McGonagall is a cat.

"The common cat has a long history. For thousands of years, the domestic cat 
has aroused strong emotions in its human companions. Cats have been 
considered magical creatures, well acquainted with both the world of man and 
the world of spirits. Extensive feline mythology stretches from ancient 
Egypt, where the cat was worshipped as a god and, where to kill a cat was to 
be punished by death."

"to 16th century England, when it was demoted to the rank of demon and was 
savagely persecuted by the Christian Church, because of its association with 
witchcraft and black magic. "

(info taken from http://webhome.idirect.com/~ladyjade/)

Claire
(Hoping desperately not to get her second post to the list as wrong as her 
first)

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