Keeper of the Keys

[littleleahstill]

No: HPFGUIDX 113154

emrsing wrote:

Ihave just finished re-reading the whole HP series for the 4th
time. And now that I have discovered HP4GU, the HP Lexicon, etc., am
starting again with a more "critical" reading. One question that
comes up for me that I haven't seen addressed anywhere is, what is
the significance of Hagrid's title being "Keeper of the Keys" and
Grounds at Hogwarts. The only KEY we have seen him carry (to the
best of my memory) is the key to Harry's vault at Gringott's. And he
certainly held several key pieces of information that Harry,
Hermione, and Ron used in solving the mysteries in SS. But, is there
some significance beyond this? After all, Dumbledore did say that he
would trust Hagrid with his life. Does he perhaps hold the key to
the whole mystery? Any thoughts or theories out there?

Leah:

I feel sure this has cropped up before, but an (admittedly cursory)
search of the archives couldn't find anything. 

I too am unable to think of any canon showing Hagrid locking up 
around the castle- I would tend to think of that as Filch's job, and 
I think that we have seen the latter with keys.

If there is some sort of analogy attached to this title, I suppose 
the most obvious would be St Peter, who was given the keys of heaven 
and hell; the crossed keys are now the symbol of the papacy.  I'm not 
sure where we go from there though- Hagrid as 'the rock'- possible, 
Hagrid as a denier, Hagrid with powers of judgement?  Peter became 
the Vicar or substitute for Christ on earth- are we meant to see 
Hagrid as a fallible substitute for Dumbledore.  

It would also be possible for the keeping of the keys to put Hagrid 
in some sort of porter/gatekeeper role- he is Keeper of the Grounds 
and Keys.  There is the porter in 'Macbeth' who calls himself the 
porter of hell, and somehow in association with Hagrid, the idea 
seems to call up some sort of underworld association- I suppose it's 
Fluffy that does it.   Given the number of visits to underworlds 
Harry has already made, this might have something in it.

Finally, there's the locked room in the MOM. Does Hagrid have any 
actual or symbolic key to that?

Sorry, I don't think I've been very helpful. Perhaps someone else can 
take it further.

Leah