FAQ Poll Answer - Royal Word Choices (long)

[lifeavantgarde]

No: HPFGUIDX 129038

J
K
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A
G
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I don't know about anyone else, but while reading through JKR's 
answer to the FAQ poll, I nearly went into apoplectic fits at some 
of her very curious word choices:

"[...] he was also (without realising it) choosing which boy to 
anoint as the Chosen One – to give him tools no other wizard 
possessed – the scar and the ability it conferred, a magical window 
into Voldemort's mind."

I do find the use of the capitalized words "Chosen One" along with 
the word "anoint" highly interesting. This to me (along with some 
word choices which she uses later on in the answer) to draw very 
very strong royal connotations. Who gets anointed to a chosen 
position? Think of the Old Testament story of Samuel anointing David 
to become king of Israel (not that I'm making Voldemort Samuel, 
here...it's the action of anointing as applicable to kingship which 
is the important part of this example). There are many other 
examples of this terminology in the Old Testament, and a cursory 
glance at a Google search of the words "anoint royal king" turn up 
stories from many different mythological backgrounds. We know that 
JKR is very careful in her word choices -- I do not think this to be 
a colloquial coincidence. And, this is not the first time in this 
answer where she'll refer to Harry in royal terms.

Next
"to give him tools no other wizard possessed – the scar and the 
ability it conferred, a magical window into Voldemort's mind."

JKR implies that the *only* powers which Voldemort has transferred 
to Harry are his scar and the mental link. This seems to imply that 
all of Harry's magical strengths and predilections are distinctly 
*his*... he's not a Squib, he's not an average wizard made great by 
Voldemort, he's truly great on his own.
(And incidentally, does this mean that Dumbledore's speculation that 
Parselmouth was a transferred trait is wrong? Was Harry really born 
a Parselmouth on his own?)


Then
"So where does this leave Neville, the boy who was so nearly King?"

EXCUSE ME!? OK...I had to read this sentence about four times before 
being sure that I would be able to read the rest without needing 
smelling salts. You DO NOT just drop a (CAPITALIZED!) directly royal 
term when the main question we're all asking is "Who is the Half-
Blood Prince?" This, I feel, is the second time she's referred to 
Harry in royal terms. If Neville was nearly King, than that actually 
*makes* Harry KING. Of what? Why use this bizarre phrase? One can 
infer that this kingship is directly related to the being marked as 
equal by Voldemort -- but king? King has some distinctly positive 
connotations, while I would venture to say that Harry is hardly the 
king of anything, even metaphorically. If we interpret the previous 
quote to mean that Harry already had all of his magical 
predilections before the attack, then the attack certainly couldn't 
have made him King in the sense of being a powerful wizard. Why on 
*earth* is she using this very royal term to describe Harry -- 
especially while we've got our eyes peeled for any mentions of a 
Half-Blood Prince?


Again
"It remains to be seen how he will feel if he ever finds out how 
close he came to being the Chosen One."

Capitalized "Chosen One" again...it feels like she's making a point 
here, eh?


Finally
"If neither boy was 'pre-ordained' before Voldemort's attack to 
become his possible vanquisher, then the prophecy (like the one the 
witches make to Macbeth, if anyone has read the play of the same 
name) becomes the catalyst for a situation that would never have 
occurred if it had not been made."

There are two things in this section that make me very alert
1) The use of the word choice "pre-ordained." Ordained is another 
word which may have royal connotations: a king may be ordained to 
his position. This terminology is not farfetched -- absolute 
monarchs may be divinely-ordained, in a royal system of 
primogeniture, the eldest son is ordained king. Royal connotations 
(or at the very least, measures of authority) are definitely 
attached to "ordaining."

2) In...err.. that Scottish play ;o) the prophecy which the three 
(weird) sisters make to Macbeth involves him having to off a King to 
become a King. The entire play involves his ascent to the highest 
position of the land. Voldemort as Macbeth? Hearing a prophecy 
regarding his rise to absolute power and attempting to follow it 
through? I don't deny that the point JKR was trying to make here was 
the nature of "fulfilling" a prophecy, but the reference to such a 
prophecy is quite intriguing.


Any takes on this? I feel the royal connotations are *quite* heavy 
in this answer. Harry as King? Who's the prince?

Stefanie, who is going a bit mad, yes.