the Javert/Lucifer hypothesis

[urghiggi]

No: HPFGUIDX 78282

Chris' sig (quote from "Les Miserables") reminded me of a discussion over on 
the excellent Harry Potter Prognostications blog, regarding the OoP prophecy 
and possible outcomes of that. One of the feedbacks proposed that perhaps 
the big climax will involve HP forgiving LV somehow -- but the proposer of the 
theory then did not say how that was going to play out in the end. (I don't see 
LV repenting -- he's not Darth Vader, as far as I can tell.)

However, it occurred to me that something like the Javert/Valjean climax 
possibly could happen. For those unfamiliar w/the tale, Javert is a self-
righteous law enforcer -- really the villain of the piece -- who pursues the 
supposed criminal Valjean throughout their lives. (Valjean has really done 
nothing worse than commit petty theft in order to survive, early in the book. 
Javert's dogged pursuit is a constant threat that keeps Valjean from enjoying 
any kind of peace/joy with his ward, Cosette.) Javert ultimately tracks Valjean 
down, but it occurs in a situation where Valjean has physical power over him 
and could easily kill him for making his life a living hell. Javert fully expects 
this. Valjean, in an act of incredible human mercy, tells Javert that he isn't 
going to kill him and that he should just leave. Javert's rigid, "I'm good he's 
bad" world view is so rocked by this act of mercy on the part of a person whom 
he's pursued as a heinous criminal for decades that he commits suicide.

So let's propose that somehow -- HOW remains to be seen -- the end of the 
series involves LV screwing up, being betrayed, or otherwise being delivered, 
disarmed, into the hands of Harry, the OoP, and DA. Suppose Harry, knowing 
full well that the prophecy says he must kill or be killed, decides not to kill LV -
- decides that no prophecy is going to turn him into a murderer, even if he 
ultimately has to die himself. Suppose he's so sick of all the killing he's seen 
that he lowers his the wand and says, "no more." Now, suppose LV is so 
incensed by his humiliating defeat and this act of mercy that he prefers to 
annihilate himself rather than live in Harry's debt, under any sort of 
containment/subjection scheme designed for his rehabilitation. (Sort of like 
the Lucifer thing from Milton -- better a prince in hell than a servant in 
heaven....) LV gets his hands on a wand -- maybe he's even grabbing Harry's 
wand hand -- and offs himself.

Result -- LV dead due to Harry's actions (figuratively, and possibly even 
literally, "at the hand of" Harry). Love as the force that causes LV's downfall. 
Harry not dead but surviving, due to his moral choices. Happy ending. 

It's a far-fetched scenario, I grant you. it would have to be written so carefully, 
too -- and it might not be possible to write it at all, in a way that did not appear 
sickeningly trite. But it would satisfy the prophecy, leave Harry alive at the end 
of the series, and confirm the power of choice over fate and of love over evil. It 
seems to me it would be consistent with the themes JKR has been pushing. 
(And we do know she's ... uhhh ... familiar with French literature.)

OK, I know I'm nuts. Fire away .... :-)

urghiggi, chicago