Sacrifice and HP (non-SHIP, was Re: H/H/R Triangle)

[moongirlk]

No: HPFGUIDX 33147

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "selah_1977" <ebonyink at h...> wrote:
> the more and more fantasy literature that I read, I am 
> beginning to recognize a pattern:  one of the subgeneric 
conventions 
> is that of sacrifice.  

snipped-up portion of Very Interesting Theory:
> "Indeed, violence is one means of creating a "self", Violent 
destruction, however, usually prompts 
> someone to strike back in revenge.  Violence is thus reciprocal, 
> endlessly so.
Only sacrifice--a form of violence--interrupts violence."
> 

I'm not very familiar with fantasy literature, but I found this 
theory and it's implications fascinating.  The theme of sacrifice in 
HP keeps coming back to me, and making me a little queasy when 
thinking about the future.  

For what I came up with, I considered some categories:

1) sacrifice that ends in the death, inprisonment, incapacitation, 
madness or other form of destruction of the individual, and 

(2) the sacrificee actually escapes more or less unscathed

And, was the sacrifice the intention of: 

(a)the sacrificee? 

(b)the sacrificer (-or?)?, or 

(c)not the intention of anyone, but incidental or circumstantial?

HP seems to be replete with instances of what can be considered 
sacrifices thus far, both Big Picture ones and minor ones not 
directly related to the greater struggle.  I started making a list at 
one point.  Here are the ones I thought of, in somewhat chronological 
order:

Snape:
"Sacrificed" by Sirius when he sent him to the shack as a teen, 
probably very much for the reasons given in the Very Interesting 
Theory. (2b), although Snape was complicit, as he chose to go through 
the tunnel.

Lupin:
In same incident as above.  (2c), incidental to the 'sacrifice' of 
Snape, although an argument could be made for a (d) in which it was 
Snape's intent that Lupin be destroyed, making it a sacrifice 
triangle of sorts, but since this incident has very little bearing on 
any of the rest of the story, I'll move on...

James:
I think I would categorize this as (1b)  It seems that V wanted James 
dead, and he killed him.  James was actively fighting it, and thus 
his intent was not to allow himself to be killed.  I do think he 
might have fled if his family wasn't also in danger, so I'll toss in 
a touch of (a)

Lily:
This one, I think qualifies as a (1a), since we know that V told her 
to step aside, and said that she need not die.  She made the choice 
to die, knowing full well that V would still try to harm Harry 
afterward.  (I'm not sure if she knew that he would not be successful 
when he did, but I do believe that result did come directly *from* 
her choosing to make that sacrifice.)

Harry:
By V. in Godric's Hollow.  Definitely a (2b), although inasmuch as 
Harry had to go live with the Dursleys, there's a bit of (1) in there 
too.

Sirius:
Sacrificed by Pettigrew to escape punishment, (1b)

Neville's parents:
This would also be a (1b), since they didn't have the information 
they were being tortured for, and we don't know, if they had had the 
information, if they would have given it up.

Hermione:
"sacrificed" incidentally (2c) by Quirrel, who let the Troll in to 
get to the stone.

Neville:
Temporarily sacrificed - petrificus totalus - so that H, H & R could 
get to the stone.  While Hermione performed the spell intentionally, 
I'd say this is a (1/2c) I say (1/2) because the destruction was 
achieved, but only temporarily, by design, and (c) because she would 
never have done it under other circumstances, and did not *want* 
Neville destroyed in any way.

Ron:
Sacrifices himself in the chess scene.  (2a)

Ginny:
By Riddle to open the chamber, petrify students, and get to Harry.  
(2b)

Ron again:
Shreiking Shack, telling them if they wanted to kill Harry they'd 
have to kill him too.  (2b) again.

Lupin again:
By Snape who told that he was a werewolf, (1b), although he chose to 
give up the job, so there's an element of (a) there too.

Moody:
By Crouch Jr. (1b)

Cedric:
(1b/c)  V did it intentionally, but just because Cedric was in the 
way.

Harry again:
In the graveyard (2b), although emotionally it's a (1).

Crouch Jr.:
By Fudge/dementor (1b)

Ok, I was going to discuss how these things fit into Ebony's theory 
and what it all might mean for the future of the series, but I'm 
exhausted.  Anybody care to comment?  I'll try to come back to this 
later, if not.  One thing I've just realized is that probably some of 
the above count more as the revenge scenarios in the theory than as 
the sacrifices, and some probably overlap both, so if you'd like to 
fine-tune the list as well, feel free.

kimberly
wiped out, but feeling the odd satisfaction one sometimes feels after 
creating a useless list.