The most Pagan part of the whole series
Randy is nearly finished with Deathly Hallows, so I can post. In case you haven't read it fifty thousand other places, I would have to say that I was more than disappointed with what turns out to be the most Pagan episode of the whole series, more Pagan than all the latin spells and curses and ghosts that hang around. Up until the end of Hallows, all kinds of themes consistent with Christian ideals are present throughout the books, with a particular empahsis on sacrifice. But when Dumbledore convinces Snape to kill him, I couldn't believe what I was reading. The part about saving Draco's soul was wonderful. Draco Malfoy still has as much right to salvation as anyone, regardless of whether any human (wizard or muggle) thinks he deserves it or not. However, when Dumbledore tells Snape it will spare him the suffering and humiliation of the inevitable death that will come from the curse slowly spreading through his body, I was irked. What a Pagan concept, that we choose death to avoid our real death. Snape had to kill Dumbledore; I accepted that. The line of reasoning strayed from Good Reasons.
If it were part of the way to show Dumbledore as terribly flawed (meaning human), something that Harry gradually realizes in this book, I guess I can buy that. I don't have to like it, and if that is the case, then it is interesting that many fans were hoping for a Dumbledore resurrection, a la Gandalf or Aslan, only to learn in this book he isn't quite all-Good as these other mentor-heroes. He's more human than that, and therefore when he is dead, he is dead.
If it were part of the way to show Dumbledore as terribly flawed (meaning human), something that Harry gradually realizes in this book, I guess I can buy that. I don't have to like it, and if that is the case, then it is interesting that many fans were hoping for a Dumbledore resurrection, a la Gandalf or Aslan, only to learn in this book he isn't quite all-Good as these other mentor-heroes. He's more human than that, and therefore when he is dead, he is dead.
Comments
Anyhow, I don't know that this sort of thing "fixes" Dumbledore's actions and choices (I don't think it does) but I really don't think that the pain and humiliation he refers to is from the curse.
However, what I saw as the most Pagan ideal expressed, and by Pagan I just mean anti-Christian, was what I thought I read as Dumbledore's vanity to assure that his death will avoid humiliation and pain. The Christian values the redemptive nature of suffering and death. Not that we should seek it out (I have great love for Percoset, you know); that's what you would call a masochist.
However, I am happy that Snape did kill Dumbledore, because not only did it give Draco the chance to remain whole and undamaged, it assured that Draco might even survive. Whoever killed Dumbledore would then end up being killed by Voldermort. Elm wand or no.
Also, I remember reading someone who thinks that Rowling was going to kill Hagrid, but chickened out. I was certainly surprised he left the forest with Voldemort and the rest. Thoughts?
Hagrid carrying Harry Potter after the killing curse cast by Voldemort has happened twice.....and both times he lives. The second time, he believes Harry is dead for sure. All kind of parallels between the two time Hagrid had borne Harry. So Hagrid didn't have to be there, but makes a nice fit.
And since we are still on the topic, I thought it was interesting that Snape was disturbed that they worked so hard to keep Harry alive only to have him killed (which is what they believed at the time). I think it would have been really interesting if Dumbledore would have reminded him that we are all kept alive until we die. That is inevitable. Potter wasn't going to live forever, was he?