[HPforGrownups] Re: Harry and Snape's redemption

[Magpie]

No: HPFGUIDX 150957


> Renee:
> Making Frodo unable to throw the Ring away and having Gollum destroy
> it unintentionally is Tolkien's way to depict salvation by grace.
> Ultimately, Frodo can't save himself, let alone the world; it takes an
> `act of God' (or Provicence, if you want) to destroy evil. Perfectly
> in keeping with Tolkien's Catholic faith.
> If JKR is a Christian, we may well see something similar at the end of
> the HP series - though I see Wormtail in the role of Gollum, not Snape.

Magpie:
I agree.  Speaking from an alternate LOTR view as someone who recognizes 
Tolkien's own intention to show grace but doesn't get the same thing out of 
it, Frodo's actions in his life before the moment of truth count too  That 
is, by being the person he was he gave himself more power than he personally 
had.  In both interpretations, "good" for lack of a better word, makes you 
stronger so that you don't just have to rely on your own personal power.  It 
doesn't have to be Frodo vs. the Ring in just that moment.

Peter does seem far more like Gollum in this respect.  Snape seems very 
different, imo, since he is potentially trying to do the right thing.  And 
perhaps it's Wormtongue we should really be thinking of when it comes to 
Peter, since Peter doesn't have anything like the ring-lust Gollum has.  Not 
to mention, I just don't know if JKR shares the same type of pity for Peter 
Tolkien had for Gollum, since Gollum does suffer for the ring (despite his 
own bad character and bad behavior in getting it) in ways Peter doesn't.

Though another difference I would point out is that Frodo's task was always 
impossible where Harry's is not.  There was never any chance that Frodo or 
anyone else could have destroyed the ring.  Frodo got it as far as anyone 
could have, and farther than most would have, but his being unable to 
destroy the ring himself can't really be considered a failure because it was 
always impossible.  That, to me, is the essence of his heroism in many ways, 
that he agrees to fail from the outset.  (Or if he has any idea that he can 
triumph he figures out soon enough that he can't, but keeps going.)  It's 
never about a personal victory.

Harry's task is far more do-able and I think will be more of a combination 
between LOTR and something else.  The LOTR-aspect is in the Fellowship that 
Harry has created over the years, having friends around him so he doesn't 
have to stand alone.  Possibly in the last book he will make more key 
connections that will really seal the deal.  And also there's Peter tied to 
Voldemort through fear but tied to Harry through mercy, which is potentially 
the more awesome of the two (ancient magic etc.).

-m