[HPforGrownups] Re: main character's name/ The Kissing of Barty Crouch

[Edblanning at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 40970

In a message dated 09/07/02 19:12:58 GMT Daylight Time, 
Pam at barkingdog.demon.co.uk writes:


> --- In HPforGrownups at y..., "ronale7" <ronale7 at y...> wrote:
> > Harry's name is also significant.  "Harry" is a nickname for the 
> > devil (Old Harry.)  
> 
> That's a new one on me - I've heard of Old Nick as a name for the 
> devil but never Old Harry.  
> 
> >And "Potter" is often used as a name for the 
> > Creator.  Thus the main character's name signifies that both good 
> and 
> > evil can exist in one person, and war within him.
> 
> And there was me believing JKR when she said that she chose the names 
> because she liked them.  In fact had JKR's daughter been a son he 
> would have been called Harry and then our hero would have had a 
> different name.  Potter was the surname of one of JKR's schoolfriends 
> wasn't it? 
> 
> 

You're both right. JKR *did* say that about the name and 'Old Harry' *is* a 
familiar name for the Devil. (See Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable). 
As well as old Harry, 'By the Lord Harry' is also given as a mild 
imprecation, 'Lord Harry' also being equivalent to the Devil.

Whether JKR was aware of the allusions, consciously or unconsciously, is 
another matter. 
Anyway, since when did authorial intent matter round here? ;-)
......................

Something I've only just thought of.
Where did Fudge summon that Dementor from so quickly? And how?

Eloise


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