What if the theme of Harry Potter were -- we are our own worst enemy? (long)

[mclellyn]

No: HPFGUIDX 123942


 Gadfly McLellyn wrote:
<snip interesting discussion of Jungian dream symbolism in HP>
I believe we see this evil being a collaborating power in
Dumbledore.  He has a frightening and powerful rage that we see in
PHOENIX, "An awful voice filled the kitchen, echoing in the confined
space, issuing from the burning letter on the table.  "REMEMBER MY
LAST, PETUNIA." (p 40).  Later in the book, "He was so angry," 
Hermione in an almost awestruck voice. 
"Dumbledore.  We saw him.  When he found out Mundungus had left
before his shift had ended.  He was scary." (p 64).   I believe these
awful and scary parts of Dumbledore are the Grindelwald within - so to
speak.  <snip>
 
 Carol responds:
 "Awful" is one of many words whose meaning has diminished or
degenerated within the last century or so. It's mostly used
colloquially to mean "disgusting" or "bad"--"that medicine tastes
awful," "that was an awful movie," etc. We seldom use it to mean
something really terrible or horrible: "Aren't those Dementors awful?"
The word, which *used* to mean "inspiring awe," now means something
closer to "yucky." Its use in that sense trivializes the truly
terrible or horrible. But the primary meaning of "awful" is neither
terrible nor bad in this trivial sense but "inspiring awe."
 <snip>

During your whole post all I could think of was Mr Ollivander saying
to Harry SS/PS p 85, "After all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great
things -- terrible, yes, but great."

Terrible things inspire awe too.

Gadfly McLellyn