Voldy, Macbeth and the ambiguity of prophecy (spoilers)

[inkling108]

No: HPFGUIDX 129161

Valky wrote:
 
> A long while ago I came up with a theory called prophecy 
Instrument,
> which postulates that the recipient of a prophecy rather than the
> subject becomes the vessel through which it can be fulfilled. 
> 
> Basically contriving from this, that Dumbledore's actions in
> 'preparing' and 'setting up' Harry as the vanquisher of the Dark 
Lord
> are how it is fulfilled, (although at the end of OOtP he begins to
> look back on it thinking it all a mistake - like Harry when he
> timeturns thinking he can correct the mistake of letting Peter go) 
and
> in spite of all this doubt somehow what Dumbledore does as the 
burden
> carrier of the prophecy fulfills it in the end.
> 
> I figured part i of that was already played out; the eavesdropper 
told
> LV about the prophecy thereby machinating the part he heard (ie the
> 'mark him as his equal' part of the prophecy).

Inkling now:

Then are you saying that Dumbledore set up the eavesdropper, knowing 
that when Voldemort heard about the prophecy he would unwittingly 
set it in motion?

Here's how I see the different responses to the prophecy:

Voldy -- interventionist.  Obsessive and reactive personality (you 
could say his whole life is a reaction to the circumstances of his 
birth) he swiftly and reflexively tries to intervene and seize 
control of the threat.  Obviously hasn't read Shakespeare or the 
ancient Greeks, but hey, who has time when you're trying to become 
the evil Lord of the World?  The prophecy *needs* Voldy to be Voldy, 
and he complies beautifully.

Dumbledore -- custodial.  I don't see him so much as fulfilling the 
prophecy as enabling its possible fulfillment.  He is old, wise, 
reflective and takes the broad view of someone who has been around 
long enough to see it all (you can be sure *he* has read the Bard, 
the Greeks and everyone else). His duty, as he sees it, has been to 
keep hope (Harry) alive.  It will be interesting to see if he takes 
it up a notch in the coming books, for example, by becoming a true 
mentor to Harry and training him.  (I really hope so and the cover 
art is encouraging.)

It will also be interesting to find out just how Dumbledore views 
prophecy.  Does he view the fulfillment as inevitable, or just one 
possibility among many?

Harry -- ????? Once it all sinks in, what will he do?  We know he'll 
tell his close friends, so their reactions (especially Hermione's) 
will figure in the mix too.  We can expect Voldy and Dumbledore to 
stay pretty much true to form, but there's no predicting what Harry 
will do.  He is young, a work in progress, and he has a reckless 
streak plus that power the Dark Lord knows not.  Oh, and raging 
hormones too.  Anything could happen.

Valky: 
 
> The Power the Dark Lord knows not and the Hand of the other, are by
> this hypothesis things that are fulfilled in Harry by the person 
who
> heard this part of the prophecy that is Dumbledore. 
> 
> But would that mean the power the Dark Lord knows not isn't from 
Lily???? 
> 
Inkling:

Valky, could you explain what you mean?  How could Dumbledore have 
given him the power?  I'm a little lost here. Thanks.