Plugging my theory

[mooseming]

--- In the_old_crowd at yahoogroups.com, "nkafkafi" <nkafkafi at y...> 
wrote:
> 
>  
> > Naama:
> > I guess I just don't see much of the parasite in Voldemort. 
> 
> Neri:
> When Voldemort takes over the body of another person, he is a
> parasite. It's certainly not something a snake does, in RL or in 
myth.
> 

There is one reference to a parasite which I believe is deeply 
significant. Throughout OotP JKR repeatedly describes Harry's 
negative emotions as snake like:

`Harry's temper rose to the surface like a snake rearing from the 
long grass.'
`But Harry's anger at Snape continued to pound through his veins 
like venom.'

However, after Harry throws off Voldy's possession in the MoM all 
those references disappear and we get the following:

`The guilt filling the whole of Harry's chest like some monstrous, 
weighty parasite, now writhed and squirmed.'


<snip>
> 
> > Naama:
> > I think, with Susan, that he is evil due to his choices. It's 
evil to 
> > want immortality and to become part snake for that. But that 
doesn't 
> > mean that snakes, as animals, are evil. 
> > That's why it doesn't make thematic sense for Voldemort to have 
> > merged with a demon (or Salazar Slytherin, for that matter), 
> 
> Neri:
> I think that the demon element might make perfect thematic sense.
> Signing a contract with a demon is a celebrated way in myth and
> literature to symbolize The Choice to become evil, frequently in 
order
> to gain some great dark powers.
> 
> Neri


For me the thematic drive is around the concept of original sin. 

When Adam fell from grace he transmitted to the whole human race not 
only the death of the body, which is the punishment of sin, but even 
sin itself, which is the death of the soul.

His descendents inherited sin, all mankind is born with both death 
and sin. Baptism is a symbol of divine protection against the evil 
within. In HP terms the choices we make are based on our ability to 
perceive and conquer our own worst instincts. Our negative thoughts 
and emotions can make us appear strong but they are not true 
strength, in fact they are destructive to us as well as others. 
Making the right choices is dependent on correctly identifying the 
false promise and temptation of the power of evil. Self betrayal is 
the greatest betrayal of all. Those who embrace evil see it as 
empowering, they imagine an inner snake which is symbiotic,  
protecting and nourishing, those who reject evil do so because they 
recognise it for what it is, a parasite. Snakes are not evil in HP, 
parasitic worms are.

In HP positive emotions are the protective force. Whilst negative 
emotions feed the parasite, positive ones are poisonous to it. 
Dementors are driven away by happiness, Harry overcomes legilimency 
twice, once with thoughts of Cho, the second time through compassion 
for what he believes is Snape as a child. Harry throws off Voldy's 
possession with his love for Sirius. Lily protects Harry with love, 
in effect she baptises him.

Several characters, with striking parallels, represent this internal 
struggle. Voldy has taken the wrong route, Snape is ambiguous and 
Neville is quietly on the right path. Harry is engaged in the 
conflict, the outcome still open. The thrust of the books is Harry's 
developing awareness of his legacy both good and evil. This doesn't 
mean that possession theory is inevitable. The conflict can be 
represented in how he defeats Voldy: sacrifice, forgiveness, 
compassion etc. What draws me to the possession theory is that 
whilst this is Harry's story the evil, and thus the fight, is 
shared. The evil transcends individual actions, it is a collective 
responsibility, it is all of mankind's inheritance.

DD confirms that the prophecy means `one of us' (Voldy/Harry) must 
kill the `other one' which I read as the entity they share, this 
creates interesting possibilities for how the final act can be 
played. Harry could defeat the possessor (and save Tom), Voldy 
could  save Harry (if Tom can be revitalised within him), or they 
could act together. Snape, as yet ambiguous, could be the deciding 
actor or Neville as the oft overlooked and humble hero could remind 
us that the smallest acts of kindness can save the day.  Quite 
possibly we could have a combination of all, some, of the above.

Regards
Jo

`Pronouns are the devil, aren't they? You start saying "he" 
and "his" and are breezing gaily along, and you suddenly find you've 
got everything all mixed up. That's life, too, if you look at it in 
the right way.'
`Heavy Weather' - P.G. Wodehouse.