Seven Obstacles, Seven Books (WAS: The Phoenix, the Stag, the Otter and the Swan (also posted on HPfGU)

[elfundeb]

Randy Estes wrote:

> Can you elaborate on the similarities between the
> ending of Book One and the other succeeding books'
> endings?
> 
> I figured out that Devil's Snare has "snakelike
> tendrils" that wrap around your ankles. Perhaps a
> reference to the Basilisk.  What do winged keys
> represent?  
> 
> In the fighting chessboard, the white king took his
> crown and threw it at Harry's feet.  Is that
> significant?
> 
> Quirrell left a troll that was knocked out.  
> > 
> Snape's potions poem finishes with "Are twins once you
> taste them, though different at first sight".  I think
> that could alude to Harry and Voldemorte being like
> twins now with the two snakes mumbled by Dumbledore on
> the night Mr. Weasley is attacked and attached in
> Harry's dreams.  Harry drinks a potion that makes him
> feel like ice and walks through black flames.
> 
> The last is Quirrell and the mirror of Erised.  The
> capturing of the stone led to the death of Nicholas
> Flamel.  Does that imply someone nice has to die for
> the Wizard world to return to peace and harmony in
> book 7?
> 
> I am merely guessing, but someone else seemed to have
> an idea how everything was related.  Any clues?
> 
That was me.  It's an idea that's been bouncing around HPFGU for some time, and some of the parallels are a bit rough (especially the flying keys, as you mentioned) but the pieces are beginning to fall into place for me now.  Here is a thumbnail sketch of how I think the parallels might work; I haven't spent a lot of time fleshing out all the parallels.

Task 1, choosing to protect the stone and getting past Fluffy.  This represents the decision.  Harry & co. neutralized Fluffy by putting him to sleep; later, Harry neutralizes Quirrell by his touch.  Going through the trapdoor can symbolize the entry into the quest, although it also fits task 2.

Task 2, through the trapdoor and into the Devil's Snare.  Going through the trapdoor parallels finding the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets and entering through it.  The fall in each book is similar, the Devil's Snare has basilisk-like characteristics, and can be defeated by light and warmth.  Harry essentially defeated the basilisk via faith and loyalty.  There's also the fact of Riddle ensnaring Harry through the diary.

Task 3 involves a choice (selecting the right key) and flying to catch it.  It's harder than with some of the others to draw the parallel to the Shrieking Shack events, except for the fact that Harry chose to spare Pettigrew and Hermione flew Buckbeak to rescue Sirius.  Interestingly, the right key had crumpled feathers on one side, a possible parallel to Pettigrew's maimed hand.

Task 4 is the chess game with the transfigured chessmen.  In the graveyard, Voldemort uses the potion to transfigure himself.  Harry engages in a battle of wits with Voldemort and manages to escape.  Cedric is sacrificed.

Task 5, which I mentioned earlier, was the troll which Quirrell had taken care of before Harry reached it.  This task represents Harry's failure and the fact that Dumbledore in effect needed to rescue him.  Also, the action-film shoot-out generally parallels wrestling or fighting a troll -- at least more so than the other climaxes, which are about much more than using one's weapon (i.e., one's wand) effectively.

Task 6 was the logic puzzle with the seven potions, my personal favorite of all the tasks.  I don't know how this will play out in Book 6, but Harry had four different choices in the seven bottles:  go forward into unknown danger, retreat, do nothing, or do something destructive.

Task 7 was, of course, the confrontation with Quirrell.  Presumably book 7 will end with Harry's final confrontation with Voldemort.  Against Quirrell, Harry prevailed because of the power of his mother's love.  As the prophecy foretells, I expect Voldemort to be vanquished in some manner by an act of love, the one weapon that Harry possesses but which Voldemort lacks.  There are a lot of theories about Harry's possible relationship to the Philosopher's Stone (e.g., that he is the embodiment of the Stone), and speculation about how in Book 7 he might sacrifice this in order to save the WW, which is one way this could play out.

I'm going to respond to everyone else's comments as soon as I can, but right now I have to go vacuum for the houseguests that will be arriving shortly.

Debbie


 

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