[HPforGrownups] The Boy Who Lived

[Edward Post]

No: HPFGUIDX 54254



Iris stated:

>When I started reading Rowling's books, it was in their french
>translation. "The Boy Who Lived", in the french version, became "Le
>Survivant" (the Survivor). That's the most logical translation, if
>we consider that Harry survived Voldemort's AK.

And then Iris asked:

>However, I'd like to know how do the english-speaking listies
>understand Harry's nickname. Do they read it only as "The Boy Who
>Survived "? Or do they think, as I do, that it sounds odd, as if
>Harry was actually dead?


To which I (Mr. Ed) have at least two thoughts:

First -- I think the phrase has to be read as if it's a flourish for added 
effect.  While you're correct, 'the survivor' is an accurate and efficient 
description of Harry's situation, I've thought about the phrase (and the 
name of the very first chapter, isn't it?) as a shortened version of: 
The-boy-who-ran-into-Voldemort-and-lived-anyway.  In other words, it's a bit 
of a story -- and I hope the past tense of the phrase is related to 
surviving his meeting(s) with Voldemort.

Second -- I also hope that another way we'll be able to be read the phrase 
by the end of the series is that "Lived" is a qualitative statement.  I hope 
we'll be able to look back and conclude that Harry didn't merely continue 
with biological functions; rather, I hope we think he had or is continuing 
to have a good life, that he "lived life" to the fullest.

Mr. Ed

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