Why the Order of the Phoenix?

[susanmcgee48176]

No: HPFGUIDX 45504

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., kathrynbav at a... wrote:
> Hi,
>         I have been enjoying the debate here ever since I recently 
joined and 
> hope it is not too presumptuous for me to post a question/theory at 
this 
> time.  Please mark it up as newbie ignorance if this has been 
talked into the 
> ground before (but isn't constant analysis/discussion/vigilance 
what makes 
> HP4GU so much fun?).  
>         Last night I came across the Lexicon's fascinating page for 
*Harry 
> Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,* but something puzzles me 
about the 
> title and the predictions regarding the much-anticipated Book 
Five.  Why do 
> we assume that this new order will consist of Dumbledore and "the 
Old Crowd"? 
>  Before looking for your delete key or opening up a return e-mail, 
please 
> consider the following:
>         How are the titles of the previous four books of the Harry 
Potter 
> series connected?
>         1)  Philosopher's/Sorceror's Stone - A mythical stone 
believed to 
> enable to creation of the Elixir of Life that extends the lifetime 
of the one 
> who consumes it.  Voldemort and his minion search in vain for the 
object, but 
> fall short of their goal that could have resurrected the Dark Lord.
>         2)  Chamber of Secrets - Site of Tom Riddle's greatest 
victory (both 
> the source of great dark power and the illusion of his good deed 
that saves 
> Hogwarts).  The TomRiddle!Diary strives desperately to 
reclaim/resurrect this 
> past success by reopening the Chamber (and thus enabling himself to 
become 
> physically substantial), but is doomed for failure as the victory 
is snatched 
> away at the last moment.
>         3)  Prisoner of Azkaban - Although the WW lives under the 
illusion 
> that Sirius Black betrayed the Potters, Book Three reveals that he 
in fact 
> was a pawn in Voldemort's power struggle.  The truth of Wormtail's 
betrayal, 
> combined with Padfoot's victory over the Dementors and escape, 
prove that 
> even when darkness seems to succeed, the light of truth will shine 
through 
> the shadows.
>         4)  Goblet of Fire - Mystical object that binds into a 
magical 
> contract those whose names it chooses.  Fake!Moody corrupts this 
tool in 
> order to set-up Harry for Voldemort.  As is common in most pivotal 
moments 
> (as well as the darker tone creeping into the series), this marks a 
potential 
> success for the Dark Arts.  Only time will tell.
>         So, what does all this mean for Book Five:  *Harry Potter 
and the 
> Order of the Phoenix*?  If my assumptions above are even remotely 
correct, 
> then could it not be argued:
>         5)  Order of the Phoenix - Secret organization created by, 
and for 
> the explicit use of, a newly resurrected Voldemort.  A new name for 
a new 
> wave of destruction that will wash across the WW.
>         Yes, Harry's wand has Fawkes' feather at its core, but 
consider who 
> has the brother wand.  As much as I love Fawkes and the good he 
represents, I 
> feel JKR's deliberate use of Fawkes' other feather is indicative of 
another 
> layer of symbolism beyond the fireworks at the end of Book Four.
>         A phoenix is a bird that rises from the ashes of its own 
destruction:
>         a)  "Bone of the father; unknowingly given, you will renew 
your son!" 
>  
>         b)  "Flesh - of the servant - (willingly) given - you will -
 revive - 
> your master."
>         c)  "(Blood) of the enemy ... forcibly taken ... you 
will ... 
> resurrect your foe." (GoF, Ch. 32)
>         Betrayed since birth by the father who would not love him, 
Voldemort 
> suffers another severe blow when his servant's efforts to aid the 
Dark Lord's 
> cause lead to the near destruction of the leader at the hands 
(eyes?) of a 
> young Harry Potter.  How fitting that the elements - the ashes - of 
> Voldemort's greatest defeat(s) shall in turn bring about his 
revival.  
>         And from the ashes of his own destruction, he will be 
resurrected 
> with new life.  Only a twisted soul like Voldemort could corrupt a 
concept 
> based upon light and goodness.  And as is common in the psyche of 
> arch-villains, only Voldemort would be arrogant enough to acquaint 
his 
> successful resurrection with that of the phoenix (the core of his 
power).
>         I realize that the above will probably be deemed a stretch, 
but I 
> would like to point out that much of the debate stimulated here is 
based upon 
> *assumptions* regarding textual evidence.  What I loved most about 
the film 
> *The Sixth Sense* was the fact that the audience could never assume 
they know 
> the complete truth.  Just when you least expect it, the tables can 
turn, 
> revealing the truth that was there all along.  This is what I love 
so much 
> about JKR's Harry Potter series, and this is what causes me the 
greatest 
> frustration as I observe the various debates.  If you question the 
above 
> theory, you should read some of the other ideas I have generated 
under the 
> question of whether we assume too much.
>         Once again, I apologize for any and all mistakes in posting 
this.  I 
> am simply hoping for advice/guidance.  If I am wrong, please do not 
label me 
> an idiot; rather, point me back along the correct path.  As I slip 
back into 
> lurkdom, thanks, once again, for the lively debate.  Kathy




Thanks, Kathy, good point...

I think the Order of the Phoenix is equivalent to the Order of 
Cincinnatus and is the secret society of good guys....my beloved 
partner thinks it's a medal, but last night she suggested that it was 
the secret good guy society of YOUNG PEOPLE..that Harry, Hermione, 
Ron and whomever else had a group called the Order of the Phoenix...

Can't wait to find out!

Susan