Deathly Hallows: Central Theme or Distraction?

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 172755

---  "chuck.han" <csh at ...> wrote:
>
> ...
> 
> The biggest problem ... with the Deathly Hallows theme
> ... it seems that Dumbledore never intended Harry to 
> garner all three objects and become the Master of Death:
> ... Dumbledore intended to die as the final owner of the
> Elder Wand, and it was only by accident that Harry (via 
> Draco) becomes its owner.  Yet he wills the Resurrection 
> Stone to Harry and the "The Tales of Beedle the Bard" to
> Hermione.  ... Could Dumbledore have known that 
> Voldemort would pursue the Elder Wand ..?  
> 
> Chuck Han
>

bboyminn:

I've been waiting for some place to jump into this 
discussion. What purpose do The Deathly Hallows serve
in this story? Harry never really uses them in any
significant way.

I think the Hallows are there because at some point
Harry has to make a choice. He must choose between
Power and Weakness. He must choose whether to make
himself stronger, near undefeatable, or he must 
choose to concentrate on making Voldemort weak. 

It is a test of wills and conscience. How many of us
would have chosen Power? We see hints that both Ron
and Hermione covet the Wand; they desire it. Its power
draws them.

So, at some point, Dumbledore knew Harry would have 
to make a choice between Hallow or Horcruxes, and that
choice would determine whether he was more interested
in himself, or whether he was more interested in 
Voldemort's defeat.

This is part of the same choice to go willingly and
comfortably to his own death at Voldemort's hand. If
Harry had chosen the path of Power, he could not have
gone so willingly, he could not have gone without a
fight, and that would have been his defeat. 

This story is about Choices; choosing what is difficult
but necessary over what is easy. Harry made the difficult
choice, a choice that very few people would have had 
the courage to make, and ultimately, that choice was his
victory.

Just passing it along.

Steve/bboyminn