This is an even better statement of something I was telling my husband this morning. It works for me that we don’t know what Harry does to make money at the end, because it’s clear that his work is his family. Everything else is in service of that.
I wondered about this, too. Hermoine would likely pass all her NEWTs anyway, but Harry and Ron would have to study and learn a lot more. Harry would need to finish school and then some to be an auror. Sure, he’s got life experience, but it’s all fighting Voldemort, which he’ll never have to do again.
Oh, I forgot I wanted to talk about the “Christ allegory” thing. I just find it a little amusing and perplexing that in our culture whenever a lead character sacrifices himself, or almost does, and returns from the dead or near death, s/he automatically gets assigned as “Christ figure.”
Yes, I realize our culture has been deeply shaped by Christianity, but also by the Greeks and Romans, and other cultures as well, and all of them have myths and legends about heroes sacrificing themselves, being sacrificed, visiting the underworld and returning, being reborn, and so on. To subsume all that history in a simple, “He represents Jesus” gloss seems a little silly to me.
(Now, I read on the Dope that Rowling said the ending was tied up in her religious beliefs, and that she’s a Christian, so I acknowledge she may have meant exactly that. But then I’m a reader who ultimately rejects C.S. Lewis’s setup of Aslan as Christ, too, so perhaps I’m just persnickety that way.)
Is there any significance to the names Hugo and Rose? Or are they just nice names?
So, are the Goblins the RIAA? Was Gryffindor a pirate? He seems to be able to hack the system and pass his sword to his friends.
Do you remember the Simpsons episode where they go to London and meet JK Rowling, and Lisa asks her “Please tell me, what happens to Harry Potter?” JK gives a long suffering sigh, and replies, “He grows up, and marries you. Happy?” and Lisa squeaks out a delighted “Yes!”. That’s who the epilogue was written for.
I like how the childhood relationship between Petunia and Lily was explored more. It turns out their parents loved having a magical daughter, instead of being ashamed and hiding it like Petunia said way back in book 1. But I’m unclear why Dumbledore’s last letter to Petunia (presumably saying “Sorry, I know you love your sister but you have no magical powers so you can’t come to Hogwarts with her”) somehow inspired her to keep Harry in her house even when Vernon wanted to throw him out. Any ideas?
I don’t believe that was the last communication between Dumbledore and Petunia. At the very least, Dumbledore pinned a note to Harry’s blanket when Harry was left on the Dursley’s doorstep. And there may have been a letter after that. Cuz Dumbledore sent Petunia a Howler that screamed “remember my last.”
It has been mentioned in the books several times (like more than 3) that Harry’s scars from his Umbridge dentention (“I will not tell lies”) are on his right hand. Does that mean Harry was left-handed and if so, why was that never mentioned? It always seems a telling point if someone is left-handed.
Huh? The scars appeared on the back of his hand as he was writing. I always assumed that meant the hand that was actually doing the writing, and that Harry is right-handed. Not that I really think it merits a mention in most books whether the main character is left- or right-handed. (Except for Inigo Montoya.)
Am I the only one who was reminded of Dr Strangelove by that?
I got the feeling, once the seven Horcruxes were mentioned in book 6, that it seemed like a video game.
Maybe, but why did it have to be FRED? Take Charley! (Sorry, I just really, REALLY love the twins).
I agree. I do, however, hope she writes another series, about something else. Even if it IS set in the wizarding world, or whatever.
ETA: Velma?
IIRC, Rowling has said that Snape is her favorite character. (I cannot WAIT to see Rickman do the last one. sighAlan Rickmansigh)
I agree 100% with the “allows anybody else to” part. But I have enough trust in Rowling, and in her pride in her creation, to believe that she would only give us more about Harry if it wouldn’t detract from the series.
I wouldn’t mind another book about his and Ginny’s settling down, but I don’t want to read anything about Harry being 64 or similar.
I do wish JKR would write Hogwarts: A History.
Nope.
And he should still have a tidy inheritance sitting in Gringott’s – unless I’m forgetting something.
Yeah, that he is the only person to successfully break into a Gringott’s vault and leave with something that didn’t belong to him. (Quirrel-cum-Voldemort being the only other being to break into a vault to get at the Philosopher’s Stone, to find it empty.)
I’m guessing his account is, how does one say, not in good standing? Sure he needed to do it to defeat Voldemort, but the goblins’ official stance was that they were neutral with respect to wizard wars. At best he’d have to pay a hefty fine (which I suppose the Ministry could raise on Harry’s behalf by floating a bond or something).
She’s said that the only additional thing she would write in the HP universe is an encyclopedia of sorts, to fill in all the info that she’s built up but never released in books. She’s written two small books before like that, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Quidditch Through the Ages, and both have proceeds from their sales donated to charity.
If you are saying that Aslan is not a straight analogy to Christ I will agree with you. However if you are saying that Christ is not used as the major (and perhaps only) basis of Aslan I disagree with you strongly.
- In a December 1959 letter to a young girl named Sophia Storr, he explains the difference:
I don’t say. ‘Let us represent Christ as Aslan.’ I say, ‘Supposing there was a world like Narnia, and supposing, like ours, it needed redemption, let us imagine what sort of Incarnation and Passion and Resurrection Christ would have there.’*
Now this brings up who did the LaStrange’s leave their money to in their wills. If Bellatrix’s gold goes back the the House of Black then does Harry get it thru Sirius?
Who knows how wizarding wills work, but not under our laws (to the best of my knowledge). Bellatrix died after Sirius, so even a direct gift to him would normally fail. Bellatrix’s closest living relative is Narcissa - so the Malfoys probably get the loot.
Well, I loved the book and wasn’t disappointed with much at all. I finished it in 11 hours on Saturday, now I’m rereading it more slowly.
I guess I’m one of the few who didn’t mind the slow bits in the forest. I liked the frantic pace of the first third and last third, but the whole book couldn’t be that fast-paced or the reader would get burnt out. Besides, being on the run from the Death Eaters and Snatchers, with no idea where to look for the Horcruxes, what do you expect them to do?
I did think, as someone mentioned upthread, that Harry was not as paranoid as he should have been. The whole scene with Bathilda/Nagini made me sooo nervous, and of course look what happened.
I liked how Kreacher came around, and led the charge with the house elves in the last battle. Plus, I actually felt bad about the steak and kidney pie he was making that wasn’t going to be eaten. I was hoping they’d summon him out into the forest with them. I loved Trelawney, and the charging desks, and Neville offing Nagini. But I was so upset by all the death. Tonks and Lupin? Damn that sucks. I don’t really think the Deathly Hallows bit was a waste… I’ll have to reread to totally make up my mind, but we’ll see.
I do think Rowling did a great job describing a wizarding war. All in all, I was pleased with this book, which could have been such a major disappointment.