COMMENT re: Why JKR wrote OoP the way she did IMO

[Kathi L Johnson]

No: HPFGUIDX 70942


Message: 21
   Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2003 16:22:32 +0200
   From: "m.steinberger" <steinber at zahav.net.il>
Subject: Why JKR wrote OoP the way she did IMO

The Admiring Skeptic (TAS) says:
I tend to take JKR at face value when she discusses her books, and she
has said a number of things that I find significant, especially since
they were offered on her own initiative in interviews, and not in
response to questions. For example, she has repeatedly stated that her
books are very moral. She has also stated that anyone who knows scripture
will know how the books end. Furthermore, she has repeatedly hinted that
Harry will die at the end, and from the look on her face when she said
that on the Royal Albert Hall webcast, I believe her more than ever.
Next: she keeps stressing the power of love, in interviews and in the
dedication to OoP. As she said in that webcast, she doesnt believe in
magic, unless its the magical power of love.

MY COMMENT:
Well, if we assume she meant Christian scripture, then it can be
reasonably argued that Harry is the Christ-like figure and Voldemort is
the Satan-like figure (good vs. evil). Christ dies but then is
resurrected, defeating Satan's plan. So, the foreshadowing comments re
the veil in OOP, could refer to that.  This is a very intriguing thread.
Where does Rowling mention "anyone who knows scripture will know how the
books end"? 

TAS says:
When Harry and Ron get that lecture from Lupin about Harry wasting his
parents sacrifice on a bag of magic tricks, Harry buys it and *so does
the reader*. Since when do people take moral lectures to heart in real
life or fiction? Almost never. The normal reaction is like Harrys
reaction to Snape saying the same thing. Resentment, tuning out, etc. JKR
set that scene up very carefully, IMO, with Snapes lecture right before
and many other elements in place besides (it takes me two hours to
develop this in class, so forgive me not giving you twenty pages of text
here), so that the reader will feel, together with Harry, Yeah, maybe it
was a stupid [face-saving word for wrong] thing to do. (

MY QUESTION:
What do you teach? I've been very impressed with how well thought-out
your discussions have been.

TAS says:
If the majority of the readership were writing posts about how they
learned so much about life and emotions and responsibility from OoP, I
would be writing posts about how well JKR had designed OoP to teach these
lessons. I would be writing about how all the character flaws and plot
weaknesses and the rest were necessary to further the moral lessons to be
learned. The problem is that people have not been learning these lessons
for themselves, in which case all the compromises JKR made to try to
teach these lessons were wasted and unjustified.

MY COMMENT:
Your message has prompted me to consider the thought that maybe, just
maybe, Tom Riddle/Lord Voldemort could be likened to Lucifer/Satan.
Recall that Lucifer was once the brightest angel in heaven and yet, he
fell from grace because of his greed and pride.  Is there a link here? I
wouldn't have previously considered it, but since your post, I have
opened up to new possibilities here....

TAS says:
It seems clear to me that the other function of OoP besides moral
exercise is to set up the final confrontation between Voldemort and
Harry, which will be the battle between love and hate. Harry will have to
love Voldemort to death, and will probably have to die in the process,
because killing is an act of hate, not love, and Harry has to use love,
as we have been told by Dumbledore. Im afraid there will be a death
scene where Harry has to find it in his heart to forgive Voldemort before
Harry dies, and this forgiveness will somehow be Voldemorts undoing.
Similar to the New Testaments act of forgiving the sinners and dying for
their sins. Perhaps Harry will persuade Voldemort to join him in crossing
through the veil by promising to love Voldemort forever in the eternal
afterlife.

MY COMMENT:
Forgiveness is the central part of the New Testament. I agree with you.
My thinking is that Harry will be mortally wounded and, before dying,
will forgive Voldemort (which is the ultimate expression of agape "pure"
love) which will destroy Voldemort. I don't think Harry will persuade
Voldemort to join him, though.

Very thought-provoking post.

* ~ Kathi ~ *
kathleenjohnson at juno.com
http://www.geocities.com/johnsonjournals
* ~ "How things look on the outside of us depends on how things are on
the inside of us."~ *