[HPforGrownups] Re: The power the Dark Lord knows not - was Neville Theory

[Kemper]

No: HPFGUIDX 153764

> Patricia wrote:
>
> > I really had forgotten the bit about the power the dark lord knows
> > not... well not forgotten, but I forgot to connect it to Harry's
> > survival in a real way. JKR cannot reasonably kill Harry and have
> > the power of love fail and stil have this wonderful work about good
> > and evil and love and hate. ...snip the rest...
>
>
> anigrrrl2 responded:
>
> Ok - I agree that Harry can't die in the end, but I think my reasoning is
a little different, and less philosophical. It simply wouldn't make a good
story if Harry died. The whole trajectory of these books has been the
maturation of Harry, the education of Harry. So far, at least 4 people have
died directly to save Harry - Lily, James, Sirius, and Dumbledore. It would
render the literary deaths of these characters insignificant and worthless
if Harry did not survive and thrive. That's point number one...point number
two is that without the success of Harry in the end, the entire connective
tissue of the books would also be rendered silly. Training this young wizard
for seven years, who is obviously gifted, especially in Defense Against the
Dark Arts, has been the point of the books. Now, some will say that it has
all been leading up to Voldemort's defeat, and that once LV is defeated,
Harry's purpose is also defeated, but I disagree. I think that once Harry
defeats LV,,
> while the books may be over, Harry's story is just beginning. He has
essentially been preparing to be an Auror for seven years. I don't think
Harry can die, because it wouldn't serve any literary purpose.

> 
..
.
Kemper now:
More accurately, imo, James and Lily died for Harry's life while Sirius died
and Dumbledore --though I'll be the first one to say his death is
debatable-- died for the way of the Light.  Those two believe that Harry is
the great Light hope.  And for all his talk of choice and anti-prophecy
talk, Dumbledore believes that Harry is the only one that can vanquish the
Dark Lord otherwise why wouldn't he have face and fought the Dark Lord
earlier?

If Harry does die while obviously vanquishing the Dark Lord, it will serve
the literary purpose of showing the power of sacrificial love.

Or do you mean something different by 'literary purpose'?

-Kemper


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