[HPforGrownups] Flower names

[rosie]

No: HPFGUIDX 40156

Buttercup wrote:


  "Random monkey said:
  > Ooh - I've just noticed something: Lily and Petunia, both flowers.. 
  ok, that's not very significant."
  Oi! I'm not random monkey! I'm Rosie :)

  and also:
  "I've noticed that too... and more to the point, there seem to be 
  loads of flower names in HP. As well as Lily and Petunia, we have 
  Lavender (Brown), Poppy (Pomfrey), Fleur (Delacour), Pansy 
  (Parkinson), (Padma (Patil - I read somewhere that Padma is Hindi [I 
  think] for Lotus), Narcissa (Malfoy)... I don't know if the number of 
  plant-related names is significant, but it seems possible there's 
  some symbolism there. After all, lilies are supposed to represent 
  (and correct me if I'm wrong here) beauty and death amongst other 
  things. I have no idea what petunias represent, but they're a bit 
  plain and ordinary aren't they?"


  After posting that about the flowers I was on "What's In A Name" (http://www.theninemuses.net/hp/d.html), which says: "The petunia symbolizes anger and resentment. Compare with the lily, which symbolizes purity and innocence." - interesting. And it sounds like "petty" too. Which the Dursleys definitely are! And yep, they are ordinary too: very suburban and boring, really! Just like her.

  I'm not sure about all the other flower names (why they are what they are) although I agree there are a lot! 

  For some of them it might not be an association with the flower though, e.g. Lavender Brown (both names are colours), Narcissa Malfoy (a reference to her being narcissistic?), Fleur Delacour (which apparently, broken down into Fleur de la Cour - flower of the court - means noblewoman in French). "Flower" seems to be quite a good choice for Fleur, really - she's very decorative and head-turning, but in the Tournament she wasn't amazing.

  Poppy Pomfrey is, I think, reference to the medicinal uses of poppies for opium as a painkiller in the past. I can't find anything on Pansy Parkinson (apparently pansies symbolise thoughts, but I don't think that's too applicable in her case!) Padma is also the name of a Hindu goddess, and her sister goddess is Parvatti, very good choices for twins of (I think) Indian descent.

  Rosie




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