[HPforGrownups] The power of words in the WW (Was: Fear and Valour)

[James Lawlor]

No: HPFGUIDX 105907

Carol:
> BTW, has anyone noticed the contrast between Dumbldore's practical,
> almost real-world approach to words and names (don't use euphemisms;
> call it by its name) and Gandalf's and Aragorn's in LOTR, where words
> do seem to have power (e.g., Strider scolds Frodo for saying that if
> he goes without food any longer, he'll become a wraith)? It strikes me
> as odd that Dumbledore, who knows what words can do when used as
> spells, takes their power so lightly.
> 
> Are there any other examples of words that can or might have power in
> the WW besides Voldemort's name and spells or incantations? (If anyone
> wonders, the distinction I'm making here is between one- or two-word
> spells like "Expelliarmus" and "Avada Kedavra" and lengthy
> incantations, possibly accompanied with Potions, as in the restoration
> of Voldemort in GoF.) Wouldn't a spoken oath be magically binding, for
> example? (Again, think LOTR or the Silmarillion--the Ring binds Gollum
> to his oath; the Silmarils bind the sons of Feanor to theirs.) Would
> an oath sworn to Voldemort have power beyond the personal vengeance of
> Voldemort on the oath breaker? (I'm assuming that the initiation
> ceremony in which the DEs received their Dark Marks involved some such
> oath and that Snape is breaking or has broken his.)

That reminds me a bit of the Earthsea series (Ursula K. LeGuin) in
which magic originates from the True Speech, and among other things,
it is mentioned that the True Language binds men to the truth, and
that Wizards do not swear because they realize the potential
concequences thereof.

I think the situations are rather different though - Dumbledore is
discouraging people allowing fear to prevent them from saying
Voldemort's name, in other words he's trying to help them stop letting
fear control them. On the other hand Aragorn was warning Frodo not to
joke about a situtation that could (and nearly does) come true, given
his situation.

I'm sure that if someone were to say something to the effect of
"Better watch it or I'll Avada Kedavra you to next week!" Dumbledore
would certainly have something to say about it.

- James Lawlor
jlawlor at gmail.com