The Deathly Hallows: Morality of Mythical Objects

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 177432

Debbie:
> Dumbledore's note, which arrived with the Cloak in PS/SS, 
> admonished Harry to "use it well."   On the whole, Harry did used 
> the Cloak well.  He did not use it to commit crimes, or hide in
> fear or shame.   When he did use the Invisibility Cloak for foolish
> pleasure (as in the PoA Hogsmeade trip), he was properly called on
> the carpet for it.  The Cloak served its purpose, as Harry was able
> to keep Death from stealing him away while his mission remained
> unfinished.  However, just as in the tale, when he was ready for
> Death, "he pulled off the Invisibility Cloak and stuffed it beneath
> his robes, with his wand."

Jen:  That's a neat catch, Debbie. :) I thought of Harry as the third 
brother without ever noticing this moment.  

Xenophilius said this about the cloak: "None of you have ever seen 
such a thing.  The possessor would be immeasureably rich, would he 
not?"  (DH, chap. 21, p. 411)  He assumes someone would either use 
the cloak for gain or perhaps sell the cloak if a person owned such 
an amazing item   That thought never occurred to Harry because it's 
the only thing he has from his Dad and he's not motivated by money 
anyway.  Although I think the first was the most important part since 
he constantly feels the loss of his family and the cloak is a 
connection.

Alla:
> Hmmm, do you think Dumbledore then knew for sure that at the 
> extreme need Stone will work OR he was not sure and just wanted to
> be sure than when Harry tries to use it, it will be in the time of
> extreme need?

> Do you know what I am trying to ask? Do you think there is 
> limitations on when Resurrection stone will work and whether 
> Dumbledore knew that?

> I mean, supposedly when he tried to put it on in HBP horcrux curse
> hurt him, but if there was no horcrux curse on the ring, do you 
> think Stone would have worked for Dumbledore or his loved ones 
> already moved on and he would have been at the most in the position 
> of the second brother indeed?


Jen:  I thought Dumbledore put the Stone in the Snitch to keep Harry 
from using it like the Mirror: to call back the dead when he felt 
defeated at some point during his quest.  If he had the Stone in his 
possession, Harry might have attempted to call back Dumbledore to 
explain things rather than Harry learning his own truth.  Or called 
back his parents and Sirius, living in the past instead of facing 
what's real.  

Dumbledore learned from the fairy tale and his own experiences that 
just like the Mirror, a person can waste away thinking about the past 
and not what's in front of them.  So I guess I'm saying Dumbledore 
knew that it's not exactly the item that doesn't work, but what that 
item can do to the user who wants something improper from it.  Does 
that address your question or am I off on the wrong track?!?  


Alla:
> Oh YES of course, it IS his reward and per fairy tale traditions I
> have no problem with it, I am just not sure if I can call his
> behaviour courageous necessarily, you know?

> I mean, it is courageous in a sense that he decided not to live
> forever and met Death when he felt his time is right, but I just do
> not see any analogies, any possible RL analogy with human being
> deciding for himself how long he can live, if that makes sense.

Jen: You're right there, I don't see an analogy to RL literally as in 
any of us can choose the time.  I read the RL analogy to be more that 
if a person meets life on life's terms instead of worrying about 
being stalked by death, such a person would be more likely to meet 
death the same way.  Something like that, the words aren't coming to 
me. ;)      

Alla:
> So, when third brother accepts death, it resonates with me, but when
> he decides on his own how long he can live, it reads like .... wish
> fullfilment in fairy tale?

Jen:  I can see that aspect. His wisdom resonated with me more than 
his courage probably.  The courage was more about how he lived his 
life than the moment he accepted his death.  It's hard not to see the 
parallel with Harry, the moment Harry decides to die and how it was 
courageous *because* he's scared.  Since the third brother wasn't 
scared so much as accepting, I imagined him to be much older like 
Dumbledore and ready for death.  So maybe that's the answer - he was 
old. Hehe.

> Debbie
> who would choose the Cloak over the wand or the stone

Jen, who would choose the Stone.