What if Harry dies?

Jen Reese stevejjen at earthlink.net
Sat Nov 15 22:52:38 UTC 2003


No: HPFGUIDX 85130

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "susanbones2003" <rdas at f...> 
wrote:
> I realize this might well be considered a provencial point of 
view, 
> but if Harry dies, if the ending is not simply bittersweet with 
the 
> loss of many important characters, but if the ending should 
require 
> the death of Harry, would the series be something we would want to 
> read and re-read even into future generations? It would be gutsy 
to 
> to kill Harry but I wouldn't want it to be gutsy for the sake of 
> guts. Harry's death would break untold hearts, and disaffect them 
as 
> well. A "happy ending" isn't necessary but a satisfactory one is. 
I 
> am very hopeful JKR will want Harry to triumph over Lord Voldemort 
> and live to tell the tale.


Jen R.: 

Personally, there are ways Harry could die that I would make peace 
with. In many ways, he's lived his whole life following other 
people's plans for him, and it was refreshing to see Harry grow into 
his own person in OOTP, despite (or because of?) the outbursts and 
heartbreak at the end.

Harry loves the WW dearly, even though he sees all the flaws and 
failures that are part of this world; maybe because he doesn't take 
the WW for granted like so many who have grown up in it. He's one of 
those rare beings who wants to 'do good' not for personal gain, or 
out of vengence or any other misguided reason--'doing good' is 
almost an ethical imperative with him, and perhaps is the power he 
holds over Voldemort.

So for him to sacrifice himself to save the WW, for the 'family' he 
loves and the future of the WW--that seems completely within the 
realm of possibilty given who he is. That's what makes him so 
totally different from Voldemort, not fearing death. If that is the 
outcome, I would grieve but feel satisfied that Harry died on his 
own terms, for something he cherished and believed was greater than 
his own life. Sniff--I get sad just thinking about it :(





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