The Living Philosopher's Stone (Was: Re: The Spiritual Symbolism of HP)

[Alison Williams]

No: HPFGUIDX 56293

 
Bill,

Thank you!  Thank you very much for condensing this discussion.  It has
been fascinating reading.

I have been trying hard to find something new to contribute, but it is
not easy as so much work has already gone into this.

I do have an attempt - apologies if this has been covered elsewhere in
there and I missed it. I thought I spotted a possible piece of evidence
from what I am just about getting used to referring to as 'canon'.
Although this is not something that I really wanted to find evidence for
- it relates to the prediction of Harry's death by beheading before the
end of book seven.  This is from the end of PoA (p.295-296 of the UK
adult edition).

"Seconds later they heard footsteps quite close by.  Dumbledore,
Macnair, Fudge and the old committee member were making their way up to
the castle. 'Right after we'd gone down into the passage' said Hermione
'If *only* Dumbledore had come with us...' 'Macnair and Fudge would've
come too' said Harry bitterly 'I bet you anything Fudge would have told
Macnair to murder Sirius on the spot...'"

So, the idea of a person (Sirius) being killed by the executioner sent
for Buckbeak is not unthinkable for either Harry, who said this, or
Hermione who didn't contradict him.

Of course this doesn't *prove* anything but it is a reference to
beheading as a possible sentence for people as well as Hippogriffs.  

The Ministry is, at best, ambivalent about its role by the end of GoF
and Fudge does seem rather like a Pilate figure - I can imagine him
washing his hands of the consequences of actions forced upon him.

Another point (stop me, I'm getting carried away...) carrying on from
points which were made by someone in all that earlier discussion 1)
eternal life in the spiritual/Christian sense is not the same as - in
fact it is the opposite of - living forever in Voldemort's sense, and 2)
the resurrection is vital to the Christian story *but* (new point) there
is a second vital event which is the ascension (the 'next big
adventure'?) 

Where am I going with this?  Towards a happy ending?  Harry reunited
with his parents after sacrificing his life for the WW?  

Apologies if i have strayed too far up Symbolic Alley!

Alison