The Phoenix

[aiz24 at hotmail.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 9004

The phoenix is definitely on the side of good in the HP canon thus 
far.

Immortality, on the other hand, is not viewed entirely positively.  
Dumbledore doesn't criticize the Flamels, but contrast his views of 
death as a rest from life and/or "another great adventure" (PS/SS, 
297/US ed., ch. 17) with Voldemort's, whose goal is to conquer death 
(GF, 653/US ed., ch. 33) and whose followers are called Death Eaters. 
 We seem to be headed, thematically, for a critical view of those who 
want to escape death entirely.

Perhaps the problem is not so much with immortality per se, but with 
deathlessness as an ultimate goal.  What matters most is not how 
long you live but what you do with your years, and Voldemort is not 
exactly spending his on good works.

Amy Z