Parallels between the Weasleys and King Arthur's fami...

[heathernmoore]

No: HPFGUIDX 31597

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., GerRoJen at a... wrote:
> 
> So, we have Lily and Petunia.  I do believe there is a third sister.  
> Narcissa is my guess.  
> 
> I have always thought the coincidence between Harry Potter and Arthurian 
> Legend were too many to be truely coincidence.  The only problem is deciding 
> which legend to go off of!  LOL  Thank you for this conversation!
> 
> Jessie
> 
> 
> 


 I am extremely puzzled by this common speculation that Narcissa Malfoy was one of the Evans sisters. The fact that she has a flower name is *not* significant, given JKR's quite widespread use of botanical names. I quite expect to meet a Violet, Ivy, Hyacinth, Laurel, Rowan, Daisy, or what have you in the upcoming books. 

 From Petunia Dursley's rants, it is absolutely clear that Lily was the only magical person in the Evans family. Because she never mentions anything to the contrary, it's probable that there were no magical aunts, uncles, or cousins that Petunia knew about. Lily was, to Petunia's eyes, unique - a freak.

 For Narcissa to have been a third Evans sister, she would have to also be a muggle. I cannot *imagine* Lucius Malfoy ever stooping to marry a Muggle. I cannot *imagine* Draco having a Muggle mother, with his attitude and background.

 I see nothing in canon which could possibly even open this line of speculation.


  I really don't think the HP books are a mapped-out modernization of any one folkloric story. If Harry is inspired by any figure in Arthurian lore, it is Arthur himself, with Dumbledore as his Merlin. There's certainly enough symbolism of "drawing the sword" and whatnot, and Ron seems close enough to being some generic knight supporter. But Hermione seems like a knight, *too.*  

The five knight brothers = five Weasley brothers parallel is interesting, but I don't think it's particularly unique. A lot of heroes in literature and folklore end up supported by a band of brothers. 

I don't think we're going to find it particularly valid to expect everything to else to fall into an Arthurian line from that, though. JKR had dozens upon dozens of inspirations. Take Shakespeare: besides naming Hermione after a character in A WINTER'S TALE,  Snape seems like he may shape into a modified Shylock archetype, for example. Peter Pettigrew seems rather like Iago. The Lestranges might turn out to be Thane and Lady MacBeth. 

  -- Heather (uma)