[HPforGrownups] Potterverse Destiny (was Re: C. S. Lewis and Potterverse Destiny)

[Vivamus]

No: HPFGUIDX 121366

> SSSusan snips all the interesting stuff, to get to this:
> > Vivamus, who absolutely believes in destiny (with a small 
> d), but also 
> > believes it is also dependent upon free will
> 
> 
> SSSusan:
> Okay, Vivamus, now you're going to have to speak to the 
> difference between destiny & fate for me! :-)
> 
> Siriusly Snapey Susan

Vivamus:
Hi, SSSusan

I agree with JKR on "fate".  I dislike the idea that a random universe
creates truly non-random events, and I don't like the idea of a capricious
deity playing dice with our lives in one form or another, either.   I think
both ways of looking at it are attempts by superstitious humans to explain
why life often does seem to be non-random -- and I think it very often IS
non-random.  In today's terms, I think that references to "fate" are often
simply ways to justify letting ourselves be chips in the millrace, rather
than paddling to where WE want to go -- or as excuses for bad behavior.  I
find that attitude quite offensive, as, apparently, does JKR.   (THE DEVIL'S
DICTIONARY ((C)1911) defines destiny [in this case synonymous with fate] as
"A tyrant's authority for crime and fool's excuse for failure.")

I do, however, believe in destiny (with a small d).  By that I mean, the
intent of the Creator for our future, rather than a personalized deity of
some kind.  As a Christian, I think of the Creator beingx all-knowing and
all-powerful, but NOT all-controlling.  He sets our path before us, but we
don't HAVE to walk it.  We are children, not slaves.  

Without going into Scripture, perhaps the largest difference between "fate"
and "destiny" for me is inevitability.  I reject the concept of fate because
it is inevitable; I refuse to accept that I cannot take responsibility for
my own future.   There are literally thousands of examples in history of
someone who seemed fated for one direction altogether, and, through an iron
will, changed their direction entirely (and sometimes the direction of an
entire people.)   Destiny, on the other hand, is the future planned out for
me by the One who knows me best, but it is still up to me to be faithful to
my destiny.   He knows the choices I will make, but I am still the one who
makes them.   Unlike fate, which cannot be avoided, destiny is very fragile,
and can indeed be missed, or (in the Potterverse) interfered with by someone
who is exposed to prophecy.

For someone not a Christian, I guess the concept would be that of a
conscious setting forth of the future as it now stands by a deity, for the
purpose of helping that future to come about -- but the humans involved
still have to create that future themselves.

In HP, Harry has a destiny to fight LV, but he still does have to fight, and
the final outcome (for those who aren't outside the story as readers) is
very much in doubt.  WE know he will win, but the characters don't know
that.   The greatest danger to Harry's destiny is DD himself, who might
interfere.

DD is a wonderfully complex character, if you think of him in terms of this
concept of destiny -- and I think this fits with his character in the books
better than any other way of looking at it.  (Of course, I could just be
deluding myself into seeing my own ideas in JKR's writing, but I don't think
so.)

JKR has said DD is the epitome of goodness, or something like that.  So he
is powerful, kind, and good, as well as very, very smart.  He knows Harry
has a destiny to fight LV, but he knows the future is not set, and destiny
can be thwarted.  If he does too much, he will mess things up.  So he leaves
Harry with the horrible Dursleys, both so he is protected, and so no one
else in the WW can interfere with his development.  He gives Petunia some
kind of powerful warning when he does so, so that Harry will at least be
provided for in a minimal way, and not turned into a vicious monster.  He
knows they will provide the things he needs, but they won't be nice to him
at all.  He'll have a tough upbringing, but he'll come to Hogwarts as
prepared to fight LV as possible -- not a Draco Malfoy at all.

Once Harry is at Hogwarts, DD watches over him constantly (perhaps that is
what those spectacles are for.)  He can now give more guidance and help, but
again, he does not want to interfere with the destiny that is before Harry.
With great wisdom, he returns the invisibility cloak to Harry, and lets him
do absurdly dangerous things -- not because he thinks Harry can't get hurt,
but because Harry seems to be walking the path of his destiny, and DD MUST
allow him to be prepared for what is ahead.  In the "confession" scene of
OOtP, he still does not tell Harry this, because it would again be
interfering with his destiny.  Harry is going ahead as he should, as he
must, and DD, with a heart full of love for Harry, watches in immense pain
as Harry goes through these struggles.  He only interferes as much as he
would normally do in the course of things, and often less (as when he sees
the kids under the cloak in Hagrid's hut.)

Harry often wonders why DD doesn't help him more.  I think we'll see DD do
that much more in the next book, as Harry becomes more set on his path.
Before that happens, though, I think Harry is going to step away from his
destiny in HBP.  His grief, guilt, pain, etc., are going to get the best of
him, and he will turn aside altogether.  That is when we will see DD step in
as an active friend and counselor to Harry, as he has not been up to this
point.  As long as Harry stays on point, DD must keep hands off, to keep
from interfering with Harry's destiny.  When Harry turns aside, DD will be
free to act more directly, because there is, in effect, nothing to lose.

Vivamus