The Phoenix Must Die

[derannimer]

No: HPFGUIDX 81160

Aarrrr.

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*Great* post, Pip -- it's eloquent, well-argued, and adds some truly interesting points 
that I don't think I've ever seen before. (Like the idea that the OOP was guarding the 
Prophecy *not* to stop Voldemort from stealing it, but to alert the MOM when he did 
-- that's a brilliant notion, and neatly explains that "But *Dumbledore* knew what 
was in the Prophecy -- why didn't he want Voldemort to hear it?" difficulty. 
Dumbledore didn't really care about that end of the thing much at all.)

If I might add a point that could fit in here -- and I know it's just an interview, but 
still -- you know, JKR has said that Christians should be able to guess where the 
series is going. If the Wizarding World must "lose its life to save it," that is a kind of 
thematic resurrection, isn't it? The Christian theme of resurrection; and the Phoenix; 
and the redemption, and subsequent revival, of the WW, all tie rather neatly together 
thematically, don't they? (If we do end up with some variant on 
OutlivesHisDeath!Harry, how might that fit in there? Do people have any ideas?)

But, while I do love this post, I have essentially the same problem in considering it as 
MD, I think, that Tom does: It's not really a theory, for the most part. It's *canon.*

I mean, we all already knew that the Voldemortian ethos was broadly, even mostly, 
accepted in the WW -- we've known that since GOF, with that crowd at the QWC, with 
those hate letters Hermione gets: "Go back where you came from Muggle." 

And we likewise already knew that Dumbledore was the iconoclastic one of the two -- 
Marina wrote, way back in Message Number 38430:

> The poster-boy for non-conformism in the WW seems to be Dumbledore. 
 
And I think that a *lot* of people have assumed ever since the House Elf subplot 
(especially when coupled with the recurrent mentions of goblin riots -- I wonder if 
S.P.U.G. is going to turn out to be ironic foreshadowing?) in GOF that the WW is going 
to have to make a serious change in its treatment of its fellow magical beings. A lot of 
people may have laughed at S.P.E.W., but a lot of people also said they would have 
joined.

And, well, I mean, as Tom said, epic stories almost *always* involve a fundamental 
shift in perceptions on the part of whatever world they take place in -- and it's been 
clear since at least COS that the perception being targeted for authorial elimination/
reduction in the WW is bigotry. Bigotry, and inequality. With the Fountain it has 
become *blatantly* clear that Dumbledore wants to change the nature of the WW's 
politics and broader society; and I think it's a pretty sure bet that, unless the series is 
to end a tragedy, Dumbledore's wishes are going to at least be set in motion, at least 
by the time of the epilogue.

So, while this post is a wonderful and insightful piece of *analysis,* I'm not sure you 
can call it theorization. [1] It's -- just about -- canon. Now, judging from the 
responses on this thread, some would disagree with that assessment -- but I don't 
quite see how they can, given the nature and extent of political commentary in GOF 
and OOP. I'm curious: those of you who disagree with Pip's post, what do you think 
the political/social structure of the WW is going to look like by the end of the series? 

What about the Fountain?

On the subject of one of those responses, btw -- dreadful transition, I know -- 
Kneasy wrote: 

> Well, if [Dumbledore] wins, he's got it. It's an adjunct of victory. So what does 
> he do with it? Abdication is not an option. Human nature being what it is, someone 
> is sure to come along and think "Why not me?" Then we're back where we started.
> Give it away? Not possible. Not magical power. It resides within Dumbledore;            
> nowhere else. If he retires, sets up a new government, it'll only form factions, each 
> appealing to him for support. It all gets very messy.

Ahem. (Hem, hem.)

Kneasy, I hate to break it to you, but Dumbledore ain't gonna be in any position to 
have *any* political power by the end of the series. Because Dumbledore is gonna be 
dead. Dead, dead, dead.




Derannimer, uncomfortably aware that, say, four months ago, she was saying the 
same thing about Hagrid

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[1] This is, as you said, a post about motivations; the *actions* that the MD crowd 
attribute to Dumbledore, Spying Game and etc., *are* theorization, and fun 
theorization.