John the Baptist again (was RE: Character Discussion: Ron)

[Tim Regan]

No: HPFGUIDX 124593

Hi All,

Hans wrote:
>>> I equate Ron to John the Baptist. Harry equates to Jesus; Ron to
John <<<

But surely Dumbledore is John? Here's a quote from John the Baptist: "I
indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after
me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall
baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: whose fan is in his
hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into
the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
(Matthew 3:11-12).

Now, although Dumbledore is a really powerful wizard ("But you're
different. Everyone knows you're the only one You-Know- oh, all right,
Voldemort, was frightened of." McGonagall PS/SS Chapter 1) he realises
after the prophesy ("The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord
approaches" OotP Chapter 37) that he cannot vanquish Voldemort, only
Harry can. It is this powerful person awaiting the chosen one that we
see in John the Baptist and in Dumbledore (and in Yoda and in Morpheus
etc) but not in Ron.

Hans also wrote:
>>> Ron's willingness to sacrifice himself teaches us that liberation
requires the giving up of self. "He who loses his life for my sake will
find it" (Matt. 10:39) <<<

And this is the implication of John the Baptist analogies. If a
character does turn out to be analogous to John the Baptist, and that
analogy is played out in full, then that character will die, and die a
pretty senseless death at the hands of a mother and her beautiful
daughter:

"But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced
before them, and pleased Herod. Whereupon he promised with an oath to
give her whatsoever she would ask. And she, being before instructed of
her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger. And the
king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat
with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. And he sent, and
beheaded John in the prison." (Matthew 14:6-10)

But hope is at hand. Clearly there are aspects of John the Baptist that
rule out both Dumbledore and Ron. For example compare these three quotes
which show us our suspects eating habits:

"Would you care for a lemon drop?" (Dumbledore PS/SS Chapter 1)

"Oh, of course, you wouldn't know -- Chocolate Frogs have cards, inside
them, you know, to collect -- famous witches and wizards. I've got about
five hundred, but I haven't got Agrippa or Ptolemy." (Ron PS/SS Chapter
6)

"His food was locusts and wild honey." (Matthew 3:4)

Wild honey? Yes. Locusts? I don't think Dumbledore or Ron will be
ordering locusts anytime soon.

Cheers,

Dumbledad.

PS I'm sure this has been done to death before, but Yahoomort's search
feature failed me.