I posted this at my blog looking for critical response, and my critical readers didn't show up! I'm looking to expand and improve on this essay.
I'd love to hear your responses. From The Epic of Gilgamesh to Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince , the question of death has been explored in the pages of literature, not least in mythological works.
There is hardly a more universal human experience than death, and its chilling finality has caused fear in not a few hearts and minds. So what does she want us to learn about death? That this theme is central to the books can be seen in the multitude of plot twists, words of wisdom, and symbols, not the least of which is the phoenix, that speak directly to the issue of death.
Working primarily in mythological categories, I intend to investigate how Rowling teaches this theme. We will begin by exploring the symbol of the phoenix and how it relates to the theme of death.
All of the subsequent content will be linked to this central symbol. I will then argue that Harry progresses through a figurative death and resurrection cycle in each book, teaching him, in effect, to live and die well. The phoenix has been a powerful literary and religious symbol for thousands of years. As such, it achieved some prominence as a religious symbol. As early as 96 A. Alice Mills, who notices the Christ symbolism, explains for us the mythical significance of the phoenix as it relates to other symbols utilized by Rowling, such as unicorn blood also a Christ symbol and the three-headed dog: All of these mythic figures…are linked to the human longing to transcend time and death, whether by descending to the underworld and returning unscathed, or by magically gaining eternal life through the use of a talisman, or by being resurrected from the dead Mills 4.
Since the symbol of the phoenix does relate quite powerfully to the theme of death, we see its frequent use in the Harry Potter novels. Before progressing to these words, however, we do well to consider his connection to the phoenix. The denouement of Goblet of Fire provides us with an intriguing scene that illustrates the connection between Dumbledore, Fawkes, and the theme of death.
Harry absolutely does not want to talk about it, but Dumbledore presses him: If I thought I could help you…by putting you into an enchanted sleep for a while…I would do it. But I know better. Numbing the pain for a while will only make it worse when you finally feel it There is much that Dumbledore teaches Harry about death. He learns much about how to grieve Rowling, Goblet ; Order Ultimately, the lesson that Dumbledore wants to teach Harry over and over is that it is only love that holds the power to conquer death.
Specifically, he mentions that one of these birds came to his grandfather in an hour of need. For much of the film, many of the characters believe that Credence is Corvus Lestrange, part of an ancient wizarding family whose emblem is a raven. As such, when Credence is seen caring for a young baby bird earlier in the movie, the filmmakers subtly seems to confirm these suspicions. However, this proves to be a major misdirection.
The chick that Credence has been carrying erupts into flame, and transforms into a red-and-gold phoenix. It's quite the revelation and seemingly confirms that Credence's heritage. Rowling has made to the Wizarding World. As she stated in , Rowling originally envisioned Fawkes living in the wild before he became allied to Albus Dumbledore. This complemented Rowling's description of phoenixes in the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them textbook, when she described them as being rare creatures that are extremely difficult to domesticate.
Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
But he had finally gone too far. Hagrid seized his umbrella and whirled it over his head. Pain must and will come. Rowling, The Tales of Beedle the Bard. How much did you relay to Lord Voldemort? That is why — it is for that reason — he thinks it means Lily Evans! Could you not ask for mercy for the mother, in exchange for the son? Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Do you see the flaw in my brilliant plan now? I had fallen into the trap I had foreseen, that I had told myself I could avoid, that I must avoid.
In other words, I acted exactly as Voldemort expects we fools who love to act. I defy anyone who has watched you as I have — and I have watched you more closely than you can have imagined — not to want to save you more pain than you had already suffered.
What did I care if numbers of nameless and faceless people and creatures were slaughtered in the vague future, if in the here and now you were alive, and well, and happy?
0コメント