Harry's Putative Death

[Jen Snyder]

No: HPFGUIDX 42166

Richelle writes:
<As far as canon to support whether he lives or dies, is there any?

I'm new to the list, but I've been thinking about this for a while.  Here
are some things I think support that Harry is going to die in the seventh
book.

One of the things that's always struck me as odd is JKR's insistence that
there won't be any books after year seven, or maybe just one that will "tie
things up" and tell us what happens to everyone (that survives, I guess).
In the A&E Biography episode she did, she talks about when she got the idea
for Harry Potter, while on a train from London to Edinburgh (or vice versa,
I can't remember which direction she was going).  She describes how she
literally saw Harry walking down the aisle of the train, the idea struck her
so strongly.  I hear that, and I think to myself, how could you let that
character go?  How could you be so sure that you wouldn't want to write any
further stories about that character?  She doesn't even suggest that other
people might take over and write about Harry's life after graduating from
Hogwarts.  The only way this makes sense to me is if she knows that there
won't be any life after to write about.

In every book, Harry has faced death, and, in some cases, has steeled
himself to accept it.  Time after time, he shows himself willing and able to
place the needs of others ahead of his own life.
SS, p. 297: DUMBLEDORE: I feared I might be too late.  HARRY: You nearly
were, I couldn't have kept him off the Stone much longer... DUMBLEDORE: Not
the Stone, boy, you...the effort involved nearly killed you.  For one
terrible moment there, I was afraid it had.
CS, p. 321: If this is dying, thought Harry, it's not so bad.
PA, p. 384: They [the dementors] were forcing his face upwards...he could
feel its breath...it was going to get rid of him first...he could feel its
putrid breath...his mother was screaming in his ears...she was going to be
the last thing he ever heard...
GF, p. 662:...he knew one thing only, and it was beyond fear or reason.  He
was not going to die crouching here like a child playing hide-and-seek; he
was not going to die kneeling at Voldemort's feet...he was going to die
upright like his father, and he was going to die trying to defend himself,
even if no defense was possible...

The theme of the hero who sacrifices himself so that others may live/the
world may survive is older than Christianity.  Harry is clearly on the
hero's journey.  See Joseph Campbell, The Hero With A Thousand Faces and/or
The Power of Myth.  And sometimes the resurrection does not involve the
physical being of the hero, but their spirit, or the way that others gain
life through their death.  I also don't think Harry will destroy Voldemort
(sacrifice or no)...I think he will redeem him.  Too Star Wars?...again, one
of the oldest themes in literature.

Anyway, those are some of my thoughts.  Sorry about the long post.  Like I
said, I've been thinking about this for a while...I have really enjoyed
reading the list postings so far and am excited about the chance to discuss
one of my favorite stories with like-minded people (and so I don't alienate
all my friends by incessantly talking about Harry Potter).

Jen