Voldemort as Christ figure; Ira, not Cole

[kscottmccormick]

No: HPFGUIDX 37109

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Philip Nel <philnel at k...> wrote:
> 
> While it's true that (as CMC points out) the phoenix is a symbol of 
resurrection, it (he) is also a character in E. Nesbit's _The Phoenix 
and the Carpet_.  His symbolic value may be as likely tied to E. 
Nesbit as to Christian symbolism.


The symbolism is not necessarily Christian.  I would say the phoenix 
represents rebirth more than resurrection.  It dies and is reborn.  
This is consistent with the symbolism of alchemy, and I don't think 
anyone here would say that "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" 
has nothing to do with alchemy.  The alchemical rebirth is a rebirth 
into a higher spiritual state, and that seems to me to be what is 
going on in HP.  Alchemy was resurrected as a spiritual endeavor 
mainly by C.G. Jung in the 20th century, and is a small part of a 
much wider neopagan religious movement today; just check any occult 
bookstore for books on alchemy.

For more on this, see my paper at http://geocities.com/nopotter2001

KM