Harry Potter and the Seven Deadlies

[Randy]

I came to a conclusion about the books this weekend.  I can now 
understand why JKR is confused about the attacks on her books by the 
Christian conservatives.  They just don't get it...

You may not agree with the following assessment.  I welcome your 
ideas and comments.  JKR has said many times that there will be only 
seven books.  I kept thinking about the number seven and finally came 
up with this series of ideas.

Harry Potter and the Seven Deadlies

There is an ancient poem by Prudentius about the "Battle for the 
Soul".  It discusses the seven contrary virtues to help someone 
battle the seven deadly sins.  The Harry Potter books are a metaphor 
for this battle for the soul.

1.  First book is the Philosopher's stone

First deadly sin is PRIDE
Pride is excessive belief in one's abilities.

Book Theme:  Humility versus Pride
Humility is seeing ourselves as we are instead of comparing ourselves 
to others.

Harry must look into the Mirror of Erised and see himself as he truly 
is.  He must remain humble and not seek to become Immortal.  Lord 
Voldemort is filled with pride in his abilities and he does seek 
immortality.  He desires to be the greatest wizard of all time. He 
thinks: "there is no good and evil, there is only power and those too 
weak to seek it
"  Perhaps pride is that evil voice in the back of 
your head! ;0)  Pride has overtaken Professor Quirrell.

2. Second book is the Chamber of Secrets

Second deadly sin is ENVY
Envy is the desire for other's traits

Book Theme is Love versus Envy

"Love is kind".  Love actively seeks the good of others for their 
sake.  Envy resents the good others receive or even might receive.

The innermost desires of a person are often said to lie inside his 
heart.  If the person keeps his desires secret, he tends to lock them 
in his chamber of secrets.  A diary can contain the innermost secrets 
of a person.  Ginny had secret desires for Harry which she kept 
inside and wrote into Tom Riddle's diary. She locked her desires 
inside her chamber of secrets (ie. She had a locked heart)

Professor Lockhart (locked heart) is envious of the deeds of others.  
He steals their achievements by stealing their memories and writing 
books about their deeds as if they were his.  Professor Lockhart is 
filled with envy.

3. Third book is the Prisoner of Azkaban

Third deadly sin is SLOTH.
Sloth can be spiritual sloth which is related to Sadness and a 
feeling of not caring about doing things.

Book Theme is Zeal versus Sloth.

Professor Lupin appears to let his extreme sadness make him slow to 
act.  He seems to act sometimes like he does not care about things. 
Harry must overcome his fears and learn to take action.  He cannot 
wait for someone else to drive the Dementors away from Sirius at the 
lake.  He must act himself and not remain a prisoner of his own fears!

4. Fourth book is the Goblet of Fire.

Fourth deadly sin is LUST.
Lust is the inordinate craving of pleasures of the body.

Book Theme is Self Control versus Lust.

In this book Harry has desires for Cho Chang and he is jealous of 
Cedric Diggory when Cedric gets to take Cho to the Tri-Wizard Ball.  
Durmstrang is an exaggeration of male virility with Victor Krum 
representing excellence in athletic ability.  The boys of Hogwarts 
all swoon when the ladies of  Beaux Batons enter the room because 
they represent an exaggeration of female beauty.  Ron lusts after 
Fleur, and he feels jealous that Victor Krum shows interest in 
Hermione.  Hagrid shows amorous desires for Madame Maxime.

Lord Voldemort craves the body he does not have yet.  He lusts for 
the pleasures of the body.  Mad Eye Moody is definitely moody and ill 
tempered like a teenager dealing with his inner lust.  He has the mad 
eye that watches everything and keeps his true self locked up inside 
a trunk.  It seems like the "madman" has escaped like in Dr. Jekyll 
and Mr. Hyde. 

5. Fifth Book is the Order of the Phoenix.

Fifth deadly sin is ANGER.
An individual spurns love and opts for anger. Impatience with the 
faults of others is related to this, and anger is often our first 
reaction to the problems of others.

Book Theme is Patience versus Anger.

Harry is very angry with Dumbledore at the end of the book.  Sirius 
and Snape are very angry with each other and impatient with each 
others faults.  Sirius becomes impatient and wants to act.  Harry is 
impatient and wants to save Sirius at the Ministry.  Harry must 
endure punishment from Umbridge for his outbursts in class.  He must 
learn patience. Professor Umbride is angered by Dumbledore's school 
and his teachers, and she becomes impatient to make changes.  

The Order of the Phoenix appears to be another pun.  When one loses 
his temper his emotions burst into flame.  When he learns patience, 
he recovers from the outburst and returns to his former self.

6.  Sixth book is the Half Blood Prince

Sixth deadly sin is GREED.
Greed is more than the desire for material wealth or gain.  Greed 
wants to get its fair share and wants to get the credit or praise.

Book Theme is Generosity versus Greed.
Generosity means letting others get the credit or praise.  Generosity 
is giving without having expectations of the other person.

Professor Snape wants the job of Defense Against the Dark Arts 
Teacher.  He wants to receive praise and credit for his deeds.  He 
does not wish others to get credit or praise.  He especially dislikes 
Harry using spells that he created.  He tries to confer a title upon 
himself.  The young Tom Riddle greedily steals the objects of his 
classmates.  Harry likes to get the credit or praise that the "Half-
Blood Prince's" potions book has given him.  He must learn not to 
take credit for the work of others.

7.  Seventh book title is not yet known.

Last  deadly sin is GLUTTONY
Gluttony is the desire to consume more than one requires. Temperance 
accepts natural limits of pleasures.  This pertains not only to food, 
but to entertainment and the company of other people.

Book Theme is Temperance versus Gluttony

Since Professor Slughorn desires the company of other people too much 
and he drinks a little too much, he could become the new DADA teacher 
and fulfill the role of gluttony.

Red Eye Randy

Does anyone have any other ideas?