Elf Beheading & Harry's "disturbing" dream

[annunathradien]

No: HPFGUIDX 102499

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Lady Macbeth" 
<ladymacbeth at l...> wrote:

> Lady Macbeth wrote:
> Personally, I agree with you.  However, there are many who would 
not, and I
> am certain that Jo is one of them.  In writing OotP, she made a 
very vivid
> point about what Harry and Co. thought of the elf heads on the 
wall.  That
> suggests that it's also how she (as the writer) feels.  Yes, it 
WOULD be the
> humane thing for him....  

<snip>

> There are even some people who are that way with pets - my husband
> is one of them.  He let his dog suffer from deteriorating old age 
and
> complications that go with it 

<snip>

> For some, humane is letting a person or creature (or Kreacher) 
suffer on in
> life with the hope that they will some day "get better".  

But Kreacher didn't seem sick or infirm to me, just old.  Perhaps a 
bit sick in the head, but he certainly seemed coherent enough to 
throw insults at the "mudblood" and "blood traitors".  He was also 
well enough to search out Narcissa and screw over Sirius & Harry.  He 
was seemingly only "suffering" because he was being forced to stay in 
the house of a master he didn't respect and make way for people 
Mistress Black considered scum.  Should we kill something just 
because it's just old, ornery and a bit senile?

However, in regards to Kreacher, my thoughts tend to linger on what 
he might represent in Harry's "disturbing" dream at the beginning of 
OotP.  The one where his parents wouldn't speak to him, Molly was 
holding a dead "Kreacher" and Ron & Hermione were wearing crowns.  
Many have speculated that the dream was merely foreshadowing later 
events in OotP.  Dead Kreacher represented Sirius (and Sirius falling 
through the veil).  Molly is there because of her boggart scene.  R & 
Hr in "crowns" represent their prefect status.  I tend to agree with 
this, but I'm also curious on if it might represent something else.

This may seem like a crazy tangent, but I was wondering if the dream 
may represent suicide, specifically a Harry suicide.  Harry, by the 
end of OotP, does seem to significantly consider the idea of suicide 
("Let the pain stop..."  "... then I can be with Sirius").  Kreacher 
would have been honored had Sirius sliced off his head and mounted it 
on the wall like a trophy, just like his ancestors before him.  
Death, or suicide, over dishonor.  Molly's boggart never turned into 
Sirius, but had turned into Harry at one point.  What if Kreacher 
represents Harry in that dream?  Lily/James not speaking to him... 
this could signify Harry being out of reach of their comfort (They'd 
always been symbols of comfort to Harry in the past).  Harry seems 
pretty far out of the reach of comfort in OotP, especially at the 
end.  Ron and Hermione wearing "crowns" may represent their prefect 
status.  However, we learn at the end of OotP, Dumbledore seemingly 
wanted to make Harry prefect, but passed him over for Ron because he 
didn't believe Harry wanted to deal with anymore than he already was 
that year.  The "crown" passed from Harry to Ron.  Does the "crown" 
represent "life" or perhaps more accurately, "life" awarded to one 
(Ron and/or Hermione) at the expense of another (Harry)?  

One might say that Harry's dream couldn't possibly represent suicide 
because he didn't want to die until the *end* of the book.  That want 
to die was also induced partly by physical pain, not just emotional.  
However, that wouldn't have been the first time Harry has 
contemplated dying.  I believe he also has contemplated it in PS/SS, 
COS, GOF, etc.  Harry also has displayed prescient abilities, 
especially in his dreams.  I've suspected Harry may be a Seer, just a 
Seer also with some suicidal tendencies.

As tragic as it is, suicide or suicidal thoughts can be a very real 
element of adolescent life.  Especially a very troubled adolescent 
life, as Harry has had.  His childhood certainly wasn't ideal 
either.  We've also already had creatures that represent depression 
(the Dementors) back in PoA.  Creatures that attacked him again at 
the beginning of OotP.  Harry dreaming about suicide in OotP 
(although he's not consciously aware of it, but he was 
certainly "disturbed" by the dream)?  Unfortunately, it wouldn't 
surprise me at all.

annunathradien