Firenze and Forests (Was Re: Trelawney's Future Role)

[deeby8658]

No: HPFGUIDX 97359

Hickengruendler wrote:

<snip>
'Trelawney could make another prophecy (and I think she will. They
always come in threes), and in this case it's important to have her
around, where it'smore likely, that Dumbledore or an allie will hear
it.'

Deeby writes:
I've been fascinated to read our *own* prophecies of what this 
prophecy will be and I would certainly agree that the apparently 
opposing themes of prophecy and choice will be central to the 
denouement of the series. It has been stressed throughout that 'our 
choices' make us what we are and surely this is true also of how we 
interpret and act upon prophecy. I doubt if it will be clear to Harry 
until the very moment when he has to make his choice of how to 
respond finally to the prophecy, what that choice should be. 

I would also agree that the element of prophecy has also become too 
integral to the text, both in terms of driving plot and as a thematic 
construct, for there not to be another. As Hickengruendler said (in 
the post I've snipped) 'they always come in threes'!

I just wonder if I'm being way off beam considering that another 
character may play a hand in the prophecy game, namely Firenze. I'm 
not suggesting that he might make a prohecy (heaven forbid that a 
centaur should ever be that specific!) Rather I wonder if he might be 
instrumental in helping Harry decode the prophecy and thus make his 
choice?

Right back in PS it seems to me that JK began to build his role both 
as seer of the future but also, more importantly, as one who realises 
that the planets can be ambiguous in their message and that prophecy 
is open to interpetation. When he says 'The planets have been read 
wrongly before now' (PS 189) it seems to open the way for differing 
interpretation. I was also interested by his claim that 'the future 
may be glimpsed in the sky above us...'(OOP 531). As someone who 
can 'glimpse the future' whilst at the same time recognising the 
ambiguity of prophecy, perhaps he is ideally placed to help Harry 
interpret and act upon *his* prophecy.

This new prominence would also support further JK's doubling of 
characters. With Firenze replacing Trelawney, it's *so* tempting to 
see them as mirrors of each other - ie. reflecting yet reversing - 
and therefore complementing each other perfectly.

Finally -I promise! - isn't it tempting to see him as an emblem of 
unity between the WW and the world of magical creatures? Half man, 
half horse, he seems to symbolise the unity that characters like 
Dolores aim to destroy and that characters like Hagrid try to promote.

Now the apology - sorry for going on so presumptuously in a new to 
the group and hopelessly enthusiastic way but I do think he's going 
to be *very* important in further books. And I wouldn't be surprised 
if the Forest (his milieu) doesn't figure largely. Amazing how many 
creatures/people/giants/cars(!)/motorbikes(?) seem to find their way 
there!!!

deeby - who has gone on far too long and promises to curb her 
enthusiasm next time!