Jo's OWN Words about Political and Religious Overtones in...

[prep0strus]

No: HPFGUIDX 174074

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Lynda Cordova" <moosiemlo at ...>
wrote:
>
> DG:
> 
> So Harry has no real choice to make, save accepting the inevitable.
> It's a mechanical sacrifice, not a spiritual one. Harry's sacrifice
> redeems no-one; it is a means to an end. Indeed, it is an act of
> finality that precludes Voldy's redemption - once that sacrifice is
> made, Voldy is irredeemable.
> 
> Lynda:
> 
> Oh, Harry has a choice all right. To accept that he has to die to
destroy
> the part of Voldie's soul that resides in him and do just that or to
go on
> living and let Voldie come back at a later date.  "Neither can live..."
> 
> Lynda
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Prep0strus:

I agree - for something to be considered christ-like, it doesn't have
to be analagous in every single way.  I think JKR has made it clear
enough in interviews what her beliefs are, and that they have
influenced the HP series.  But that doesn't change the fact that this
is fantasy, it's fiction... it's a story for children (and adults).  A
character without sin isn't especially interesting - Harry's flaws
seem to be a big reason why people think he can't represent christ. 
But I don't understand why a story can't reflect certain themes,
without being rejected outright if it doesn't follow everything to the
letter.

I think Harry's march to the woods... it does show a certain
inevitability of it.  But only because it is so obvious what Harry's
choice will be, as we know Harry.  He makes the choice to save
everyone's lives.  Harry is filled with love for the people suffering
pain, and he makes the choice to face that, not run from it.  You may
as well say that Jesus didn't have a choice - faced with the suffering
of people who are not redeemed.  God sent Jesus to do this, asked him
to do it... I think his say 'no' to that is just as likely as Harry
not doing what he needs to do - perhaps less so.  Harry did make a
choice, consistent with who he is.  It is not their souls Harry is
redeeming - JKR doesn't go that deep into the spiritual morality of
her world.  But I think his sacrifice for their lives and pain is
certainly analogous.  He certainly believes it, as he thinks his love
of them has protected them from Voldy as his mother protected him
(which is a point i have some issues with, but it's not the focus of
this post, so i digress).  If everything Harry did was too close to
the bible story, it would be flat... a retelling.  This isn't a
retelling of the bible; it is its own story, which reflects themes of
sacrifice and love that JKR has gleaned from her faith.

Personally, I am not religious, or spiritual.  But I was raised in
Christianity, and I have respect, and even envy of those who are
(rather than the sometimes bitter antagonism that can develop in some
of us who fall away from faith).  I think this book hit the point home
harder that JKR was sending a christian message than any previously -
almost to the point of eye-rolling frustration for those of us who
don't believe.  I think if she had truly mimicked in all senses - had
Harry actually been a savior, a redeemer, had put even more bible
nuggets rather than following the true paths of THESE characters...
then she would have lost much of her audience, and sacrificd a great
story.

I feel the core morality of most religions is often the same (and
boils a lot down to the golden rule), and stories are great ways of
portraying aspects of religion, of morality, of faith, of ethics, of
society... and to expect it to always follow it to the letter while
doing so cheapens both the message and the art.  

I think I may have gone a little off topic here... I tend to do that -
forget what my point is.  All this is my opinion, of course... but I
do see Harry's sacrifice as a christ-like one, but appreciate that it
came out of Harry's story, and what was in Harry's capacity to do.

~Adam (Prep0strus)