symbolism in HP

[mongo62aa]

No: HPFGUIDX 56515

I had originally posted a similar message some hours ago, but it 
appears that it has vanished into cyberspace.  So, here is my second 
attempt:

Hans:

I want to thank Bill and Rita very much for their long and detailed 
responses to my recent postings on the symbolism of HP. Bill has 
posted a resume of past discussions about the living philosopher's 
stone which I found extremely fascinating. He has also posted a very 
detailed reaction to my comparison of HP and Christian Rosencreutz, 
within 36 hours of my posting. I can't believe Bill could have read 
and analyzed the Chymical Wedding in that short a time. He must have 
read and studied it before. Perhaps Bill could comment on that. 
Anyway, my heartfelt thanks to Bill.

Me:

Actually, this is the first time that I have read the Chymical 
Wedding.  When I read it a few days ago, I was thunderstruck.

First of all, are the many close similarities between the Chymical 
Wedding and the Harry Potter books.  The examples that I gave in an 
earlier post are only some of the many similarities and analogies 
between the two that I had noticed.  There are many more.

Possibly the key analogy between the two works is the symbol of 
(spiritual) death and resurrection: the Phoenix in the Harry Potter 
books, and the Virgin in the Chymical Wedding.  They have played 
similar roles through the first four stages of each tale.  One 
interesting note is that the Virgin reveals her true name, Alchimia 
(Alchemy) as a logic puzzle, while in 'Philosopher's Stone' the sixth 
task in the dungeon is a logic puzzle involving Potions!

If the similarities hold up in the fifth book - and the press 
releases about 'Order of the Phoenix' suggest that they do - then 
Harry will embark on a journey to a strange new world (of greater 
spiritual awareness?), accompanied by the Phoenix, where he will make 
a beginning on his Magnum Opus, his Great Work, just as CRC voyages 
to a new land, accompanied by the Virgin, for the same purpose.

Incidently, I do not think it a coincidence that Harry's position on 
the House team (with *seven* players) is SEEKER.

The second reason for my amazement is that I found the Chymical 
Wedding to be so absorbing - once I started reading it, I could not 
stop until I had finished it.  The reason that I was so fascinated by 
it is that, although I had never read it before, it seemed strangely 
familiar, like a forgotten dream.  I am not trying to put on airs, I 
am sure that this would be a common reaction, as the story resonates 
so well with our Jungian archetypes.

Hans:

One of the great works which I believe is a window on the way back to 
man's original universe is the Divine Comedy by Dante. I'm absolutely 
sure that Dante tells the same story as Dr Rowling does, but I've 
never had the time to read it and analyze it. I wonder if there are 
any members of this group who would be able to tell us what 
similarities there are between HP and the Divine Comedy. Bill 
perhaps? I've got a feeling Slytherin's statue comes in there 
somewhere.

Me:

I am sorry to say that I have not read the actual poem, but only 
summaries.  Having said that, there may be a number of similarities 
between the two works.  In the Divine Comedy, the figure of Virgil 
plays the same role, that of Guide, as do the Virgin+wise old man in 
the Chymical Wedding, and Fawkes+Dumbledore in the Harry Potter 
books.  Also, the Judgement of Minos plays a similar role in the 
Divine Comedy, as the Weighing by the Stones in Chymical Wedding, and 
the Sorting by the Hat in the Harry Potter books.

Bill