The Prophecy, the End, & The Trinity

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 69624

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "linlou43" <linlou43 at y...> wrote:
> 
> I know. I know. The prophecy has already been discussed and then 
> discussed some more but I think I have a new perspective on this. 
> 
> "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches...
> Born to those who have thrice defied him, 
> born as the seventh month dies...
> And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, 
> but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not...
> And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live 
> while the other survives...
> The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the
> seventh month dies..."
> 
> 
> Summary of prophecy interpretation:
> 
> Harry has the power to defeat(vanquish)the Dark Lord.
> 
> Neither has Lived for years.
> 
> Through Harry's power both Harry and Tom will Survive but 
> the Dark Lord will be defeated.
> 
> Have fun with it everyone-
> linlou

bboy_mn:
Excellent analysis, and very convincing.

The one part of the prophecy that has eaten away at me since I first
read it, is this line-

" ... And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can 
live while the other survives... "

Specifically, the use of the word 'either'. Why would an accomplished
write like JKR use such awkward phrasing unless she was intentionally
 hiding something in that phrasing.

Why not -

'And ONE must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while
the other survives..."

or -

'And ONE WILL die at the hand of the other...'


I think the 'niether' can very easily fit with LinLou's speculation.
'Neither' could just as easily refer to Voldemort's dual personality;
Riddle and Voldemort, as it could to Harry and Voldemort. 

But no matter how I try to restructure it or how I shift my
perspective, I can make no sense of the use of the word 'either'. 

The whole key to understanding the prophecy is in that one awkwardly
worded line. Note it begins with the word 'AND'. That implies to me
that a new statement is being made. The first few lines foretell the
birth of Harry (and/or Neville). ThT one line that begins with "...And
either must die..." is the true prophecy, then the last line is merely
a repeat of the birth of Harry/Neville. 

LinLou has made some sense of the last half of that statement, but I'm
still stumped by the first half. It's pretty rare that I can't
fanasize some explanation for any plot dilemma I encounter, but this
one has me completely block. Whatever it is, it's the key to
understanding it all.

Perhaps the 'either' ties to back LinLou's statement. In a sense, we
have a connected trinity; Harry->Voldemort->Riddle and from Riddle
back to Harry again, and it is not 'one of the two must die, but one
of the three must die'. Some branch of that trinity must parish, or
all three will be tormented for the extremely long length of their
earthly lives. In a sense, as long as three exist, they have a
deadlock, there can be no resolution until the triangle is broken. 

Another thought, in this triangle, each person plays a role-
Harry = good
Voldemort = evil
Riddle = torn between good and evil

I believe that, I'm just not sure I understand it.

I've never been so haunted by a single word.

bboy_mn