Why were the sacrifices different? (was: A moral theory of Magic )

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 95395

vmonte wrote:
<snip> 
> But anyway, I really cannot make heads or tails of this prophecy.

Carol:
If it helps any, a Prophecy has to be ambiguous so that it can be
fulfilled in various ways and still be true, at the same time allowing
for the element of choice or free will. As I see it, Harry was not
born with any more power than any other wizard child; he was merely
one of two possible candidates who could fulfill the Prophecy. He was
"destined" to be the one who could defeat Voldemort only *after*
Voldemort *chose* him (and transferred some of his powers to him,
thanks to the backfired AK, which also temporarily rendered Voldemort
powerless). Lily's choice to die is also important, even though its
not mentioned in the Prophecy, because it ensured Harry's survival
(and made his ultimate defeat of Voldemort possible). 

Thanks to their choices (rather than any power or ability that he was
born with), Harry is now unquestionably the "one with the power to
defeat him" (Voldemort), but the remainder of the Prophecy is still
ambiguous. (I read "either/neither" as referring to Harry and
Voldemort, both of whom now "survive" but only one of whom can truly
"live"--after he destroys the other--but that of course is not the
only possible reading.)

If the Prophecy said straight out, "Harry Potter will destroy
Voldemort," there would be no mystery, no suspense, and no free will,
only predestination, which I don't think is what JKR intends.
Otherwise the emphasis that she and Dumbledore place on choice, and on
doing what is right rather than what is easy (think of poor Lily
here), would be meaningless. There must be ambiguity in the Prophecy,
there must be the possibility of failure and misreading, or Harry's
destiny would be no more than walking through a predetermined role,
and he (and Voldemort) would be nothing more than chess pieces or
puppets whose choices were illusions.

Does that help at all?

Carol