Chapter Discussion: Prisoner of Azkaban Ch 16: Professor Trelawney's prediction

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 190207



> > Alla:
> > 
> > Oh, good question, you know what the funny thing is? I am still not completely sure. I mean, we know that she was not writing a complete fraud, thats for sure and I think based on Half Blood Prince as well she is also someone who really wants to be taken seriously in her profession. Come to think of it, I think she and Hermione have it in common. 
> 
> Potioncat:
> Oddly enough, something Trelawney said to Harry made me begin to wonder about the fraud part. I've always thought she was sincere yet insecure in her craft--and not particularly good at it. But when Harry tells her she just made a prediction about LV, she says something alon the lines of "I wouldn't be so bold as to make that sort of prediction..." (sorry, am not at home, no book.) The wording made me think she "made up predictions" on a regular basis.


Alla:

Ok, I decided to look it up in British version:

"Professor Trelawney looked thoroughly startled.
"The Dark Lord?" He Whow Must not be Named? My dear boy, that's hardly something to joke about...rise again, indeed..."
"But you just said it! You said the Dark Lord-"
"I think you must have dozed off too, dear!" said Professor Trelawney. "I would certainly not presume to predict anything quite as far-fetched as that!" - p.238

I don't know, I see your interpretation, but to me it sounds more like her disbelieving that she made this prediction, rather than reference that she was consciously making stuff up before, you know?

But I definitely see your interpretation, especially since most of her predictions are so silly and do not come true, one cannot help but wonder whether she did made them up.


> Potioncat:
> Someone pointed out that Peter was chained to his alias since he had no way of safely becoming Peter again. So, while it's a stretch, he is freed from his bondage to his animagus form (I almost said animorph form, any one here read those books?) Predictions and prophecies generally ride on stretches of meaning. Coward that he is, he would never leave that "prison" without good reason. As I said before, it was a very comfortable prison.

Alla:

I completely agree with you here.

> Potioncat:
> I don't suppose every Potterverse prophecy has to work in the same way. I don't see that any action on Harry's part set it in motion. It's just that The Prophecy generated so much discussion--granted the plot hinged on it---but we rarely look at this one.
> This prediction says the servant will help LV become greater and more terrible than before; should Harry have done anything differently? DD gets a lot of flack from readers because he didn't stop Snape from telling LV The Prophecy.  Harry allowing Peter to live and then Peter's escaping did permit LV to gain strength.

Alla:

OOOOOO, I see. I remember discussion as to whether Harry should have done something differently and I waver on this. It is to me one of the episodes which highlights Harry in the most noble and generous light, however believe me I am totally agreeable with AU scenario where Sirius and Remus would have kindly told Harry to shut up and killed Peter right there. I would not have cried much about that for sure. Yes, I know the trouble is we would have had no story then, but from within the story, I would have been very pleased with Peter's death. I would think that since Ministry so fast pardoned dead Sirius, I would think dead Peter would have been a very fine proof that nobody indeed killed him thirteen years ago.


> Potioncat: In retrospect this prediction also explains why reborn LV seems so different than his reputation. He's grown more evil and less sane over the years--and this last transformation took him even farther along.

Alla:

Agreed.