OOP: Literary Themes of the books

[Tim Regan]

No: HPFGUIDX 63860

Hi All,

> > --- In HPforGrownups Gregory wrote:
> > > themes of the books?  So far, I've identified the following:
> > > 
> > > Things are not as they seem (which includes the racial and 
class 
> > prejudice angles)
> > > The parent/child relationship (which includes coming of age)
> > > The master/servant relationship
> > > Unity and division
> > > Choice and Identity

For me it isn't so much choice and identity, but choice versus pre-
destiny. We all remember Dumbledore's statement in CoS:

"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more 
than our abilities." CoS USA p.285

Now we see that played out again in OoP. One subplot is a story of 
two people who hate their cousins: Harry hates Dudley and Bellatrix 
hates Sirius. This hatred could define their actions, and at the 
close of the novel Bellatrix fulfils that destiny. But at the start 
Harry shows that there is another way when he chooses to save 
another living being rather than give vent to his hatred.

Let me use those events to suggest another theme: redemption.

Harry believes, or feels, that letting Dudley die is wrong:

"'THIS WAY!' Harry shouted at the stag. Wheeling around, he sprinted 
down the alleyway, holding the lit wand aloft. 'DUDLEY? DUDLEY!'"

And though his belief does not imply a belief in the possibility of 
redemption, it certainly leaves me with the conviction that Dudley 
is worth saving, that Dudley should be given the chance to turn out 
good.

James goes through redemption too. In OoP we see James as an 
arrogant bully:

"'You think you're funny,' she said coldly. 'But you're just an 
arrogant, bullying toerag, Potter. Leave him alone.'"
But this is not his lot; he becomes head boy, Lily's husband, and a 
key member of the fight against Voldy.
Finally, I also see hope in Harry's treatment of Bellatrix. 
Bellatrix has killed Sirius whom Harry loves deeply. Blinded by rage 



"`SHE KILLED SIRIUS!' bellowed Harry. `SHE KILLED HIM I'LL KILL 
HER!'"

but 


 "Hatred rose in Harry such as he had never known before; he flung 
himself out from behind the fountain and bellowed, `Crucio!'" 

Harry wanted revenge on Bellatrix, he used a curse that, if 
discovered, would have sent him to Azkaban for life. Why didn't he 
choose Avada Kedavra? It is possibly because it takes longer to 
cast, but possibly because it would kill Bellatrix. It would give 
her no chance of redemption. 

In fact, though parallels have been drawn between the war against 
evil in OoP and the recent war with Iraq 
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/63614>, I don't 
think we ever see a goodie (i.e. a current friend of Dumbledore's) 
kill anyone (is this true?). This clearly sets the war Dumbledore is 
waging against Voldy apart from any war we've wrought. He is not 
willing to risk the potential redemption of a single character for 
any other end. In fact, Dumbledore is starting to remind me of the 
following quote from George Fox (1656)

"walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in every one"

Cheers,

Dumbledad

PS On rereading this post before hitting send, it comes over as 
awfully preachy. I'm not really like that, honest!