[HPforGrownups] Harry's ideal ending & my idea of a horrible ending

[Laura Ingalls Huntley]

No: HPFGUIDX 86176

Jadeau:
> And if Rowling cried when Black died, she won't live with herself if 
> she
> kills Harry Potter himself. She would be saying "evil has won" and 
> that just won't
> happen.

Sherrie:
> Not necessarily.  If Harry dies like King Arthur, destroying Voldemort 
> in the
> process as Arthur destroyed Mordred, then evil does not win.  And JKR 
> doesn't
> have to put up with being pressured to write "Harry Potter and the 
> Midlife
> Crisis", "Harry Potter and the Receding Hairline", and "Harry Potter 
> and the
> Viagra Prescription".

Oh, I wouldn't say the ending of the King Arthur legend is particularly 
in the  "good triumphs over evil, period" vein.  Personally, I found it 
rather depressing.  The ray of hope, IMO, came from the promise that 
Arthur would return.  Which he never did.  *feels horribly betrayed*

But I agree that the tales of Arthur and Harry follow a similar "Epic 
Tale" formula.  I'm really too lazy to go into the details, but you can 
see the same themes in Star Wars, the Bible, etc.

The fact that Arthur never did actually return is, IMO, an aberration 
from the normal life arc of an Epic Hero.  Especially considering all 
the symbols of life, rebirth, and resurrection that JKR has surrounded 
Harry with (for details, see the early posts of the Stoned!Harry 
theory, which I spent about an hour looking for, but Yahoomort just 
wouldn't cooperate, so good luck), I very much doubt that she will kill 
him flat out and end the story.  It just doesn't make sense.

On the other hand, I'm a pessimist, and I don't really trust Jo enough 
not to half-expect her to "go for the pain," and kill Harry off in some 
deep and meaningful way. *rolls eyes*

Personally, I hope he lives.  I know  it *can* be done well, but most 
main-character-dies-heroically-and-finds-a-better-place endings just 
leave me with a sense of melodrama.  Furthermore, killing someone off 
for the sake of convenience or not knowing what else to do with them is 
*not*, IMHO, good writing.

Plus, doesn't he just *deserve* a chance at a normal, happy life?  Yes? 
Please?

Laura (who spent a large portion of her *very* young childhood waiting 
patiently for King Arthur to return . . . until she realized that it 
was just a legend and, anyway,  he was English.)