[HPforGrownups] if Harry Survives

[Tasukibeth1 at cs.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 74067

Oryomai writes:

I've said before that I don't *really* think Harry will live...I'm more of a 
fan of "Harry-will-die-and-everyone-will-forget-about-him," but if he lives I 
think it's a dream.  He'll wake up and be an eleven year old still under the 
stairs at the Dursleys, but he'll know that he can survive them.  Or, perhaps 
he'll wake up and find a letter coming through the mail slot for him.

Beth Replies:
The dues-ex-machina plot device is total doo-doo - if Harry "wakes up" and 
discovers that all seven books worth of adventures was just a dream, I think JKR 
will have to go into hiding to avoid the lynch mob that will be after her. I 
HATE (hate is not even a strong enough word) - the "Alice in Wonderland" 
method - let's write ourselves into a corner we can't dig our way out of, and then 
cheat the readers by avoiding the responsibility of formulating an original 
ending in lieu of a convenient, easy way out. 

Personally (I have said it before, but what the hey) I wouldn't mind if Harry 
died the ultimate hero, saving the world from Evil Lord Thingy. It almost has 
a religious feel to it - evil reigns, a boy is "prophecised" to save be born 
and save the world, and is later told that he is the chosen one, but must face 
the choice - turn his back on destiny, or possibly die to save the world??? 
At this point, I wouldn't be surprised to find out Lily was a virgin and Ron 
will eventually betray him :-P. But I digress. While I am not particularly 
religious, I always like a good "chosen one" story.

Beth in Sacramento

Oh, and that wasn't an attack on you, Oryomai! I just get all riled up when I 
think about those "it was a dream" endings. 



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