Harry's happy death (Was Re: Harry, Sirius Black, and the power of posses

[julie]

No: HPFGUIDX 161676


> 
> Sarah:
> Yes, I hear circulation is way down on the New Testament now that
> everyone knows the ending.  :)  Seriously, I hear this argument all
> the time and I don't get it.  When I was a kid I would be more 
likely
> to read something if I found out everyone dies.  I loved Charlotte's
> Web, the Little Mermaid, all manner of gruesome Grimm tales, The 
Girl
> Who Trod on a Loaf, everything like that.  Kids like Harry Potter
> already, and already there are many gruesome deaths.  I don't know
> where these legion of soft children are that you're speaking for.

Julie:
Fairy tales are one thing, children's books are another. And
Charlotte's Web is not a valid analogy, since Charlotte is 
basically Dumbledore to Wilbur's Harry. Charlotte is the 
adult mentor, Wilbur the hero youth as it were. It's Charlotte
who taught and Wilbur who learned how to live. Charlotte died
because it was her time, because she had already lived a full
and meaningful life, NOT because she suddenly wanted to die.
The same with Dumbledore. 

Sarah wrote:
> The guy looked in a magical mirror that shows you whatever you want
> when he was eleven.  He basically saw the afterlife.  Each time he 
has
> faced death, he has welcomed it.  Especially in OOTP where he was 
all
> "Sweet, I'll get to be with Sirius again!"  Give him his heart's
> desire.
> 
> Sarah
>

Julie:
Wow. So JKR's message is if a teenager sees death/afterlife as
preferable to life, we should applaud that sentiment and even
rejoice when he is given (or chooses) his heart's desire. If
it's too hard to live, boys and girls, embrace death because
you'll get to see all your previously departed loved ones.
No need to work on improving your unhappy life when you can
just end it and get on with your reward. 

I realize that isn't exactly what you mean, and most teenagers
don't go through the trials Harry has, but many do lose parents
and friends, do feel depression and a desire to give up on life
in hopes of going to a better place. So why shouldn't they just
end it? Even if this isn't the message JKR intended, it's one
could be easily interpreted from this type of ending.

Not to mention, it rather ruins Harry's character. Yes, he 
embraced death in OotP when it seemed imminent. But if Harry
deliberately--and joyfully--sacrifices himself to take out
Voldemort, without making every effort to get Voldemort and
survive (which is a human instinct in all of us), do you really
think his parents, Sirius, Dumbledore et al, will embrace his
presence in the afterlife? Here they all gave up their lives
at different times just so Harry could LIVE, and he doesn't
hold onto that life with everything he has in him? And sorry,
Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Lupin, the Weasleys who love him like
family, etc, but he really doesn't miss you, he's busy with 
his reward and really, you were just holding him back!

Okay, I admit I hate, hate, HATE the idea of Harry merrily
dancing his way into the afterlife, and I hate even more
the concept of those who died to keep him alive cheering
his presence there. I firmly believe they'd want Harry to
live, and to truly LIVE, without the constant threat of 
death and destruction hanging over his head. That would be
*their* greatest desire, what they'd see in the mirror--for 
Harry to have a regular life (something else Harry has also
wished for, except when Voldemort is torturing him nearly
to death). And don't they know better than some mercurial
teenager? ;-) 

Besides, if Harry still doesn't understand the value of 
his own life by Book 7 and won't save himself, then I know 
Snape will do it for him, teaching Harry a final life lesson 
in the process--and paying back that pesky life debt to James
in full! (You heard it here first.)

Julie, 99% convinced Harry will live, but if he doesn't, sure
he won't go be allowed to go quietly into that good night.