[HPforGrownups] Symbolism of Lions/Griffins and Snakes (was: Spoiler in book 1?)

[Barb]

No: HPFGUIDX 49235


 IAmLordCassandra at aol.com wrote:
2. Snake-Council. Snape/Draco/Voldemort are all Slytherins. The Slytherin symbol is the serphant. It also ties in with the whole 'transfer to Slytherin' theme.  
 
Me:
It might be worth noting that Harry has made a "friend" of sorts of a snake before ever arriving at Hogwarts.  When he inadvertantly frees the snake at the zoo,  it seems rather grateful (and Harry certainly seems to bear the snake no ill will, especially as it was probably very amusing to Harry to see how terrified of it Dudley was).  
 
I rather like the symbolism of the snake being the symbol of evil by dint of being the Slytherin symbol, but speaking with snakes (being able to communicate with evil) being a talent of Harry's.  I also like that we know that Snape is a good guy, since that also brings in the abilities/choices issue and the question of whether a "snake" (real or symbolic) is inherently evil or its ACTIONS that are good or evil.
 
While the lion (symbol of Gryffindor) traditionally was a killer of snakes (and griffins in particular are supposed to be the enemies of basilisks) I hope that JKR will eventually rise above some of the symbolic rhetoric she's woven into the text and show that all snakes/Slytherins are not destined for evil--just as we know, because of Peter Pettigrew, that all lions/Gryffindors are not necessarily good.
 
--Barb
 


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