Harry Potter and the Seven Deadlies

[Randy]

No: HPFGUIDX 147630

This one should stir up some lively conversation.  I posted this 
last night on another list.  I thought you deserved a chance to tear 
this apart!

Red Eye Randy

Harry Potter and the Seven Deadlies

There is an ancient poem by Prudentius about the
"Battle for the Soul".  It discusses the seven
contrary virtues to help someone battle the seven
deadly sins.  The Harry Potter books are a metaphor
for this battle for the soul.

1.  First book is the Philosopher's stone

First deadly sin is PRIDE
Pride is excessive belief in one's abilities.

Book Theme:  Humility versus Pride
Humility is seeing ourselves as we are instead of
comparing ourselves to others.

Harry must look into the Mirror of Erised and see
himself as he truly is.  He must remain humble and not
seek to become Immortal.  Lord Voldemort is filled
with pride in his abilities and he does seek
immortality.  He desires to be the greatest wizard of
all time. He thinks: "there is no good and evil, there
is only power and those too weak to seek it
"  Perhaps
pride is that evil voice in the back of your head! ;0)
Pride has overtaken Professor Quirrell.

Pride will prevent you from seeing yourself as you truly are in the 
mirror of your heart's desire.  This will make you unworthy to 
attain the "Philosopher's Stone" which is a symbol of inner purity!

2. Second book is the Chamber of Secrets

Second deadly sin is ENVY
Envy is the desire for other's traits

Book Theme is Love versus Envy

"Love is kind".  Love actively seeks the good of
others for their sake.  Envy resents the good others
receive or even might receive.

The innermost desires of a person are often said to
lie inside his heart.  If the person keeps his desires
secret, he tends to lock them in his chamber of
secrets.  A diary can contain the innermost secrets of
a person.  Ginny had secret desires for Harry which
she kept inside and wrote into Tom Riddle's diary. She
locked her desires inside her chamber of secrets (ie.
She had a locked heart)

Professor Lockhart (locked heart) is envious of the
deeds of others.  He steals their achievements by
stealing their memories and writing books about their
deeds as if they were his.  Professor Lockhart is
filled with envy.

Don't allow envy to lock up your heart into a "Chamber of Secrets"!

3. Third book is the Prisoner of Azkaban

Third deadly sin is SLOTH.
Sloth can be spiritual sloth which is related to
Sadness and a feeling of not caring about doing
things.

Book Theme is Zeal versus Sloth.

Professor Lupin appears to let his extreme sadness
make him slow to act.  He seems to act sometimes like
he does not care about things. Harry must overcome his
fears and learn to take action.  He cannot wait for
someone else to drive the Dementors away from Sirius
at the lake.  He must act himself and not remain a
prisoner of his own fears!

Sadness can lead to Spiritual Sloth which can make you a "Prisoner 
of Azkaban" of your own fears!

4. Fourth book is the Goblet of Fire.

Fourth deadly sin is LUST.
Lust is the inordinate craving of pleasures of the
body.

Book Theme is Self Control versus Lust.

In this book Harry has desires for Cho Chang and he is
jealous of Cedric Diggory when Cedric gets to take Cho
to the Tri-Wizard Ball.  Durmstrang is an exaggeration
of male virility with Victor Krum representing
excellence in athletic ability.  The boys of Hogwarts
all swoon when the ladies of  Beaux Batons enter the
room because they represent an exaggeration of female
beauty.  Ron lusts after Fleur, and he feels jealous
that Victor Krum shows interest in Hermione.  Hagrid
shows amorous desires for Madame Maxime.

Lord Voldemort craves the body he does not have yet. 
He lusts for the pleasures of the body.  Mad Eye Moody
is definitely moody and ill tempered like a teenager
dealing with his inner lust.  He has the mad eye that
watches everything and keeps his true self locked up
inside a trunk.  It seems like the "madman" has
escaped like in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. 

The "Goblet of Fire" is a metaphor for the inner lust which drives 
people.  This emotion can be channeled into competition such as the 
Tri-Wizard Tournament!


5. Fifth Book is the Order of the Phoenix.

Fifth deadly sin is ANGER.
An individual spurns love and opts for anger.
Impatience with the faults of others is related to
this, and anger is often our first reaction to the
problems of others.

Book Theme is Patience versus Anger.

Harry is very angry with Dumbledore at the end of the
book.  Sirius and Snape are very angry with each other
and impatient with each others faults.  Sirius becomes
impatient and wants to act.  Harry is impatient and
wants to save Sirius at the Ministry.  Harry must
endure punishment from Umbridge for his outbursts in
class.  He must learn patience. Professor Umbride is
angered by Dumbledore's school and his teachers, and
she becomes impatient to make changes.  

The Order of the Phoenix appears to be another pun. 
When one loses his temper his emotions burst into
flame.  When he learns patience, he recovers from the
outburst and returns to his former self.

6.  Sixth book is the Half Blood Prince

Sixth deadly sin is GREED.
Greed is more than the desire for material wealth or
gain.  Greed wants to get its fair share and wants to
get the credit or praise.

Book Theme is Generosity versus Greed.
Generosity means letting others get the credit or
praise.  Generosity is giving without having
expectations of the other person.

Professor Snape wants the job of Defense Against the
Dark Arts Teacher.  He wants to receive praise and
credit for his deeds.  He does not wish others to get
credit or praise.  He especially dislikes Harry using
spells that he created.  He tries to confer a title
upon himself.  The young Tom Riddle greedily steals
the objects of his classmates.  Harry likes to get the
credit or praise that the "Half-Blood Prince's"
potions book has given him.  He must learn not to take
credit for the work of others.

The "Half-Blood Prince" is seeking praise and credit for his 
actions!  He wants notoriety!

7.  Seventh book title is not yet known.

Last  deadly sin is GLUTTONY
Gluttony is the desire to consume more than one
requires. Temperance accepts natural limits of
pleasures.  This pertains not only to food, but to
entertainment and the company of other people.

Book Theme is Temperance versus Gluttony

Since Professor Slughorn desires the company of other
people too much and he drinks a little too much, he
could become the new DADA teacher and fulfill the role
of gluttony.


Red Eye Randy
Does anyone have any other ideas?