CHAPDISC: DH20, Xenophilius Lovegood

[houyhnhnm102]

No: HPFGUIDX 182907

Jerri:

> While I find it a reasonable explanation of the 
> Tottenham Court Road issue, I have a problem with 
> the "Taboo" as a whole. Going back to the first 
> book, when DD says, in part: " . . . - for eleven 
> years I have been trying to persuade people to call 
> him by his proper name: Voldemort." and later he says 
> "fear of the name increases the fear of the thing 
> itself" or something like that (lines given to Hermione 
> in the medium not to be named). If there was a Taboo 
> on the name in VWI,then it was rational and proper not 
> to use the name.

houyhnhnm:  

It was one of the minor irritations that caused me 
to be dissatisfied with DH.  I didn't really analyze 
why it bothered me (other than it's being one more 
example of a tendency to multiply entities beyong 
necessity).  But you're right.  If it was possible 
to jinx a name in that way, the most powerful wizard 
of his age should have known it. Therefore why would 
he be urging people to put themselves at risk? 

Jerri:

> JKR doesn't seem to have the Weasley's know much 
> about their neighbors. After all, Mr. Diggory 
> doesn't seem to know Arthur's kids either, and 
> they also in the same neighborhood, at least 
> within walking distance.

houyhnhnm:

Good point.