Halloween Too Contrived? (Was: Halloween Release Speculation)

[Ken Hutchinson]

No: HPFGUIDX 163301

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Geoff Bannister" <gbannister10 at ...> wrote:

> 
> I agree that to have Hallowe'en 1997 as seeing the end of the war would 
> be neatly symmetrical but good stories do not always have such a 
> symmetry because this can appear to be contrived. Again, I believe that 
> the Celtic New Year will not be relevant becasue JKR is a Christian and 
> would not necessarily be influenced by that date.
>

Ken:

Some would certainly complain that a final confrontation on Halloween 
was contrived. Yet such things happen in the real world. Wilmer Mclean
had the peace of his farm in northern Virginia shattered by the opening
skirmish in the first major battle of the US Civil War. A cannon ball ruined
his dining room and a Confederate general's breakfast! So he moved 
120 miles southwest to the sleepy village of Appomatox Court House
to get his family away from the war and to be closer to his buisiness.
Generals Grant and Lee signed the surrender papers for Lee's army in 
his new parlor. He liked to joke that the war started in his dining room
and ended in his parlor.

LV is motivated by things he considers symbolic. I don't know if we are
given a reason why he chose Halloween for the first confrontation with 
the Potters but having once so chosen it would fit his character to seek
a final confrontation on another Halloween. It is true that he has not
been shy about seeking to kill Harry any old time of the year in the 
previous books. Now that he is re-established and needs to cement 
old loyalties and inspire a new generation to fear him it would be like 
him to plan a Halloween surprise for Harry. He might calculate that
such a date for Harry's defeat would have the most effect on those 
he is trying to impress and intimidate.

Ken