CHAPDISC: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 15, The Goblin

[cookydclown]

No: HPFGUIDX 181863

> > Questions for Discussion:
> >
> > 1. The chapter opens with the burial of Moody's eye. Might this
> > be viewed as foreshadowing of the death of the trust among the
> > trio at the close of the chapter?

Cooky:
I see it more of a comfirmation of how serious their situation is.
Moody was a tough survivor of many dark attacks.  There was still the
hope he survived the flight from Privit Dr and was laying low till he
was needed.  This was just comfirmation they were on their own.


> > 2. Hermione's suggestion that it is too dangerous to wear the
> > Horcrux is overruled by Harry who insists it must be worn in
> > shifts for security. Would the evil influence of the locket
> > have been lessened or avoided if Hermione's instinct had not
> > been summarily rejected and the Horcrux had been stored on
> > their persons in her beaded bag or Harry's moleskin bag?

> Laura:
> If the Horcrux is put in Hermione's beaded bag, she is, in
> effect, carrying it all of the time.  The same could be said
> for Harry's moleskin bag.  In addition, there would be a great
> danger in putting the Horcrux in Harry's bag.  What if Harry
> were unconscious or somehow unable to retrieve the
> Horcrux when it became possible to destroy it?  The question
> I have is why does the distribution of wearing the Horcrux
> have to be equal?  Since it affects Ron more strongly, why
> not shorten his wearing shifts?  It doesn't seem to bother
> Hermione or Harry as much.

Cooky:
I agree, but I must also point out how much it cost them to get that
locket in the first place.  The Death of Dumbledore, Weeks of
planning, a large supply of their polyjuice potion, and the loss of
their refuge At 12 Grimmauld Pl.  I don't think Harry wanted to take
the chance it got lost or left behind.


> > 3. Harry's belief about the importance of identifying the
> > thief and his hypothesis about Hogwarts being a likely place
> > to locate a Horcrux are also rejected. Were the weeks of
> > wandering and wondering worse for the trio than the risks
> > of following these leads?

> Laura:
> As for identifying the thief, what COULD they have done?

Cooky:
Again I agree, the Blond thief had no tie in to the Horcruxes at that
time.  As for returning to Hogwarts, with it being a Hot Bed of DH
activity, the Trio being quickly recognized, limited escape routes,
not to mention endangering their friends, Hogwarts would (and was)
the last place they should go.  Besides  do you think Harry could
have gotten within spitting distance of Snape and not attack?


> > 9. The characterization of the Goblins as a separatist, self-
> > interested race is very reminiscent of the dwarf races in both
> > Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia.
> > Do any other fictional or real-world equivalents or parallels
> > come to mind?

Cooky:
Maybe the Quakers, Or Hasidic Jews