[HPforGrownups] Re: Aberforth (& and eyes/glasses)

[Christine Maupin]

No: HPFGUIDX 175089

 Katie wrote:
>One thing I wondered about was the constant description of 
>Aberforth's eyes and glasses as (I don't have the book on me) white 
>or opaque. I mean, we know JKR is obsessed with eyes, but I wondered 
>what the specific signifigance of his opaque eyes was. My immediate 
>thought when reading it was that he was blinded by his anger about 
>Albus's ability to change...but that might be a stretch. Any thoughts?
 
It was Aberforth's glasses that appear opaque.  I thought of white-hot anger, but I think your blinded by anger comment is right on the mark, and encompasses Aberforth's anger toward Albus over Ariana 's death, as well as Albus's secrecy and decisions for the Greater Good:  "I knew my brother, Potter.  He learned secrecy at our mother's knee.  Secrets and lies, that's how we grew up, and Albus ... he was a natural. (p. 562 US) and "...if one young girl got neglected, what did that matter, when Albus was working for the greater good?" (p.566 US) and "How can you be sure, Potter, that my brother wasn't more interested in the greater good than in you?  How can you be sure you aren't dispensable, just like my little sister?" (p.568 US)

There are at least four passages regarding Aberforth's eyes and glasses that are interesting and revealing:
One [Harry speaking]:
"You don't understand.  There isn't much time.  We've got to get into the castle.  Dumbledore -- I mean, your brother -- wanted us -- "
The firelight made the grimy lenses of Aberforth's glasses momentarily opaque, a bright flat white, and Harry remembered the blind eyes of the giant spider, Aragog.
(p.561 US)

Two:
[Harry] met Aberforth's gaze, which was so strikingly like his brother's:  The bright blue eyes gave the same impression that they were X-raying the object of their scrutiny, and Harry thought Aberforth knew what he was thinking and despised him for it. (p. 563 US)

Three:
...and [Aberforth's] eyes were briefly occluded by the firelight on the lenses of his glasses:  They shone white and blind again.  (p.566 US)

Four:
Aberforth remained fixed in his chair, gazing at Harry with the eyes that were so extraordinarily like his brother's. At last he cleared his throat, got to his feet, walked around the little table, and approached the portrait of Ariana.(p. 569)

Aberforth apparently can read others better than he can read his own brother; his anger blinded him to Albus's pain and guilt over their sister's death -- pain and guilt he has either never contemplated or never acknowledged until Harry tells him of Dumbledore's reaction to the poison he drank in the cave.  However, I think that that knowledge, coupled with Harry's determination to complete the task Dumbledore set for him despite the possibility he could die doing, it enables Aberforth to begin healing and gives him a new resolve to fight which we see in upcoming pages.  Um...there's that concept of with knowledge comes forgiveness again...

Good observation, Katie.

Christy

       
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