Moaning Myrtle's ghost (was:Not back FROM Death, but back TO death.)

[The Sparrow]

No: HPFGUIDX 52321

Message: 17
   Date: Sat, 15 Feb 2003 02:11:01 -0000
   From: "Steve " 
Subject: Not back FROM Death, but back TO death.

Steve:
It's been stated in the book that nothing can bring
the dead back to
life, but I'm thinking about JKR mentioning that we
are going to find
out more about why people become ghosts, and that
leads me to the
following question.

Can a ghost return to death?

That is, <snip> Can they stop being a ghost, and
finally rest in
peace?


The reason I ask is because I have been speculating
for some time
about Moaning Myrtle's place in this story in the long
run; in the
broader scheme of things.  

Me:
This is where it comes down to revelations and
character importance. We've seen in the past that
seemingly 'inconsequential' characters have become
important-Scabbers,Crouch Jr.,Ginny etc- but we have
to stop and think of the difference between being a
seminal character and just being part of the
entertainment.
That being said, this point brings to mind something I
was thinking about only last night,about the story of
the house ghosts and why they stay on-or choose to
remain. But this post is about Myrtle, bless her
heart!
 
Steve:
So I ponder the possibility that Harry/Ron/Hermione
will do something
or cause something to happen that will resolve the
'curse' that is
holding Myrtle to mortal life, and allow her to cross
over to
everlasting peace.

Me:
I think Harry is the sort of person to help someone
the minute he hears of their trouble, it's one of his
main personality points and is referred to many times
in the book. It's this thar makes me think Myrtle has
more to do before she crosses-because ghosts cannot
move through until their spirit is,literally,at rest. 

I then begin to think about the other ghosts. What are
their last duties? Can NH Nick only move on when he is
accepted into the headless hunt? Will we find out the
true reason for the bloody baron's blood stains (and
do they have anything to do with Salazar,or indeed,
with the other founders)? 
 
I find it very hard to believe that JKR would go
through the entire 7
book series and leave this misery and depression
unresolved. I think
all of us have spent a least an hour or two in our
lives feeling
exactly the way Moaning Myrtle feels, and we all know
it is a very
painful feeling. I simply can't believe JKR will leave
Myrtle in
misery forever.

Me: 
Myrtle's situation is an unfortunate one. She has been
in her depressed limbo since the 40's-? how long was
it after her death that she came back?
Let's explore what Myrtle's last task might be. She
can leave her death place as she was in the boy's
shower and at NH Nick's birthday party. This means she
has no duty in the bathroom, and so her last task must
be a personal one.  

 The whole reason Myrtle was in the bathroom was
because Olive Hornby was teasing her about her
glasses. Seeing as how this upset obviously came with
her, perhaps she cannot find rest until Olive
apologises for her remarks (and assuming Olive is a
Slytherin, I don't think that's likley!)Perhaps a
desendant of Olive's,a first year perhaps, could do it
for her.
Her otherworldly duties are also obviously to help
Harry solve things- the Triwizard egg,-how the diary
came to be in the bathroom etc.....
Then again, Myrtle may never rest. Perhaps she *is*
only there for entertainment and puzzle solving help. 
She may never cheer up- some people go through life
being constant whingers, letting themselves be
downtrodden and always seeing the negative.

The Wizard world is the realm between the world's of
living and dead. When the viel between these worlds is
lifted,everything that exists there is glimpsed by
human/Muggle eyes.  
 
JKR might simply use this theory,that ghosts simply
exist, part of a world that includes other 'strange
occurances' such as  dragons,merpeople,centaurs and
Cornish pixies.
Sparrow



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