Character Discussion: Gilderoy Lockhart

[Hans Andréa]

No: HPFGUIDX 126740

As Ive pointed out in my essay, there are some remarkable similarities
between The Alchemical Wedding of Christian Rosycross and Harry Potter. For
example when Christian Rosycross enters the castle he sits down at a meal
served up by invisible servants, just as happens at Hogwarts. And just like
Harry, he sees candle-lights suspended in mid-air. Very soon after their
entrance into the hall both parties are tested; Christian Rosycross by seven
weights, Harry by the sorting hat. 

I want to draw your attention to the behaviour of some of the people whom
Christian Rosycross observes just after he enters the hall.

"In this hall there was a multitude of guests, emperors, kings, princes and
lords, noble and ignoble, rich and poor, and all kinds of rabble.[] When
the braggarts had satisfied their hunger somewhat and the wine had taken
away their restraint, they began to vaunt and boast. One would prove this,
another that, and the most sorry idiot made the loudest noise.[] They
boasted about deeds which neither Sampson, nor Hercules with all their
strength could ever have achieved. The one would discharge Atlas of his
burden, another would draw forth the three-headed Cerberus (HP!) from
Hell.[]There was one who heard the rustling of the heavens; a second said
he could see Platos ideas, and a third could number Democrituss atoms.
There were also not a few pretenders to perpetual motion. Many of them had a
good understanding but unfortunately assumed too much of themselves."

Does this bring anyone to mind? 

Later in The Alchemical Wedding these people are called makers of the Lapis
Spitalauficus. This is an imitation of the Lapis Philosophicus, the
Philosophers Stone. 

This is what I think Gilderoy Lockhart symbolises. He is the seeker who
enters the School of Liberation with the motive of using it for his own
selfish gain. He tries to impress everyone with his false Philosophers
Stone. He uses Harry to further his own ends and we learn that he in fact
cant do anything that he claims he can do in his books. But his end is the
same as the false seekers in The Alchemical Wedding: he loses his memory. In
Harry Potter Gilderoy (gold-leaf covered king) blows out his own memory by
chanting obliviate with Rons defective wand. In The Alchemical Wedding
these false seekers are given the oblivionis haustus, the draught of
oblivion.

The maker of the Lapis spitalauficus has his hart locked up, while Harrys
hart is what saves him and Sirius.

Jo, the depth of your work is unfathomable.


"if I talk too freely about [if I believe in God] I think the intelligent reader, whether 10 or 60, will be able to guess what's coming in the books." JK Rowling

_____________________________________

Hans Andra 
see you at Harry Potter for Seekers 
http://www.harrypotterforseekers.com


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