Alchemy - Another Complimentary Interpretation (Was: Re: Okay, Who Dies?) - Long

[montavilla47]

No: HPFGUIDX 170822

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Goddlefrood" <gav_fiji at ...> wrote:
>
> > Montavilla47:
> 
> > There's something I've been wanting to float as an idea ever 
> > since I looked up the seven stages of alchemy.
> <SNIP>
> > 1. Calcination:  Heating the substance until it is reduced to
> > ashes.
> > 2. Dissolution:  Dissolving the ashes in water.
> > 3. Separation:  Filtering the substance and removing any
> > impure ingredients.
> > 4. Conjunction:  Combing the separated elements again
> > into a new substance.
> > 5. Fermentation: A period of rest allowing for the growth of
> > bacteria (which is how cheese and wine is created from milk 
> > and grape juice.)
> > 6. Distillation:  Boiling and condensation of the fermented 
> > solution to increase its purity.
> > 7. Coagulation:  The precipitation or sublimation of the 
> > purified ferment from the substance.
> <SNIP>
> 
> Goddlefrood:
> 
> As I was able to understand the process, the above refers to 
> the chemical interpretation of the seven stages of alchemy. 
> It is very interesting indeed and I proffer my compliments 
> to you, Montavilla47, for putting forward an explanation of 
> the seven stages in terms of how a link could be made to Lord 
> Voldemort's progress during the books.

Montavilla47:
> > 7: DH:  Is it possible to predict Voldemort's fate using 
> > alchemy as a guide?
> 
> Goddlefrood:
> Up to a point it is, yes, but that point using whichever of 
> the interpretations whether chemical, as you had, or societal 
> as I have, falls down after stage 5. It is my view that Lord 
> Voldemort's chosen path this time around is very similar to 
> his previously chosen path. He is repeating his errors and 
> that will ultimately lead to his second and, hopefully, 
> permanent downfall.
> 
> Unfortunately, while I would like to, I can not offer an 
> explanation as to how alchemy would explain Lord Voldemort's 
> future, a future that could be quite short.

Montavilla47 (again):
Thank you, Goddlefrood.  I agree with you, I can't really make it
work past stage 5 either, but I was hoping that someone more
knowledgable about alchemy and its symbolism might.

Thank you also for the link.  I found a site very similar to this one,
but I must admit that the descriptions of alchemy go right over my
head--and I'm left with responding to the clearest, most physical
aspect, which is the chemical aspect.

Also, it just leapt out at him with the first two steps being 
calcination and dissolution, because those are strong images
from the first two books (although, it's much stronger in the first
movie than in the first book.)

But, unless Voldemort is sitting in his headquarters growing furry
with mold, I'm not sure that "fermentation" suits him physically.  
On the other hand, in a--what shall I call it?--a *poetic* sense, I
can connect that to the idea that he spends most of the book 
bubbling in the background.

As for distillation, again, in a word-associative way, Dumbledore
and Harry set about distilling the essense of Tom Riddle through
the Pensieve.

But I don't know if I'm just stretching or what...

What I do like about the idea, is that it gives me a sense of 
Voldemort progressing--with Harry as a catalyst for change.

And also, because I have this suspicion that Dumbledore's goal
wasn't to get Harry to kill Voldemort, but to save him.  Somehow
I can't shake the feeling that Dumbledore's still trying to help
 that frightened, angry little boy in the orphanage--like he tried 
to help the frightened, angry teenager on the Tower.

Montavilla47