[HPforGrownups] Re: Chapter Discussion: Prisoner of Azkaban Ch 16: Professor Trelawney's prediction

[Margaret Fenney]

No: HPFGUIDX 190210

> 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 is believing 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.


Margie:

My take on Trelawney is that she has spent her life being 
intimidated by being the Great-great-granddaughter of the "very 
famous, very gifted Seer Cassandra Trelawney".  She has never 
seen herself as being anywhere near as talented as her famous 
ancestor and thus has tried to compensate by creating her "aura" 
of poufs, other-worldly voice, reclusive habits, etc.  I think 
she both believes in divination and that she has a gift, and at 
the same time, sees herself as a bit of a fraud.  She does have 
a real gift but not enough confidence in it to really "perform" 
as she could.  She does make the two prophecies while in a trance, 
and she also, in The Half Blood Prince, predicts to some degree, 
the invasion of the death-eaters:

'If Dumbledore chooses to ignore the warnings the cards show --' 
Her bony hand closed suddenly around Harry's wrist. 'Again and 
again, no matter how I lay them out --'  And she pulled a card 
dramatically from underneath her shawls.  '-- the lightning-struck 
tower,' she whispered. 'Calamity. Disaster. Coming nearer all the 
time ...'

It seems to me that this part of the story shows she does have 
some confidence in her reading of the cards since she seems to 
have tried to discuss it with Dumbledore more than once and is 
clearly convinced by it.

Margie