[HPforGrownups] Why Harry will die

[Jesta Hijinx]

No: HPFGUIDX 65754


>My primary reason, surprisingly, relates to romance. Harry cannot
>happily ride off into the sunset with the love of his life. JK would
>have set up a "true love" for Harry by now. I don't think either Cho
>or Ginny is suited for the role. Harry, despite the close bonds he
>shares with Ron and Hermionie, stands on his own. He will not leave
>anyone alone by dying.
>
I really disagree that JKR would have set up a "true love" for Harry by now. 
  *They're all too young!!!*  Actually, my top contender is Ginny for this 
role, and I think in this book, she *is* set up for that part - by coming 
more into her own, by revealing hidden depths to her character, athletic 
ability that she has in common with Harry, and all kinds of talents.  She's 
also gone her own way and not held out for Harry - and I think it's 
hilarious that Ron doesn't like that one bit.  ;-)

>Harry's future has never been clear. His desire to be an Auror seems
>farfetched due to the O.W.L. requirements. He has never had ambition,
>never seriously considered life outside of Hogwarts. The only goal he
>must complete is killing Voldemort. But after his arch nemisis is
>defeated, what will Harry do? His entire life revolves around
>Voldemort; he cannot exist without him.
>
Harry's entire life has revolved around Voldemort up to this point because 
he had no real choice; if I were him, I'd be bloody tired of Voldemort and 
ready for him to go up in a big ball of red and gold sparks.  :-)  It's not 
like Harry can just choose to ignore Voldemort!  He's too connected to him.

Betcha he'll be thrilled to have it all over with - and I think that first 
he will be a sensational Quidditch play for England as long as he's young 
enough, and then come back to Hogwarts as a formidable (and fun) DADA 
teacher.

>Self sacrifice will not be difficult for Harry. He was ready to die
>at the end of Order of the Pheonix. I think, when the time comes, he
>will gladly end his life to save those he loves. It is in his nature.
>If he recognizes that it needs to be done, he will do it. Harry is
>not one to hesitate.
>
Harry would not hesitate - but again, there might be people who would 
sacrifice themselves for *him*.  it's happened already.

>And then there's the practical side. There is no better way to
>effectivly end a series than to kill off the main character. JK
>Rowling has made it clear there will be no more books. Why would she
>decide to stop writing about the characters that she loves with all
>her heart? Why would she suffer such an abrupt change in lifestyle?
>Two reasons are possible: she has planned it this way from the
>beginning, the threads will all be tied up, and it would be tacky to
>continue. Or, she physically cannot continue to write about Harry.
>While the former is logical and probably a factor, the latter insures
>that she will not weaken. It does, however, leave the possibility for
>books about a new set of characters in the same world.
>
Um, actually JKR has mentioned this, but obliquely, in an interview - 
writing is my avocation, and I've known writers, and nothing is more 
wearying to them than writing endlessly about the same character.  They get 
sick of it - there's no challenge for them any more.  JKR may love Harry, 
and she may continue to tinker to the end of her life and write bits of 
tales about him or characters in the Potterverse - prime case in point, 
J.R.r. Tolkien.  But there is a vast deal of difference between that sort of 
writing - which can serve as a useful warmup exercise to start a day of 
writing and get the juices flowing - and shaping a manuscript for a 
publisher.

JKR mentioned in the interview I'm thinking of that she'd like to try her 
hand at more "adult books" - probably more like modern or historical fiction 
or something like that - and will probably have to write under a pen name 
because she doesn't want to be endlessly compared to her HP books - she 
specifically cited A.A. Milne, who wrote adult fiction but could not get a 
single review that didn't compare characters to Pooh or Piglet or Tigger.

>JK has already written the ending of the 7th book. She must have
>something more than 'Harry kill Voldemort' in the last chapter. A
>wrap up chapter might not be easy to write when only on book two or
>three. However, the death of Harry would have come to her early on.
>Of course, she would have already put it into writing.
>
>I realize this theory is flawed and full of holes. The proof is not
>direct. But, I've always felt that it is the ending that makes the
>most sense. If we were upset with Snape's death, how will we feel
>about Harry's?
>
I disagree, again respectfully:  I think what makes the most sense is for 
Harry to vanquish Voldemort and be a in a perfect position to be a leader in 
the WW, with a group of friends mostly from his own peer group,b ut some 
older ones as well - not MoM at such a young age, but headed that way and 
with great things expected from him if all goes well.

I actually expect Harry's ending to be happy, but a little ambiguous as to 
what he'll actually do with his life - isn't that the case with all of us 
when wwe reach the end of a phase of our lives?

Felinia

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