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Death as a Plot Device in Harry Potter
lirene
post Mar 26 2008, 05:46 PM
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Death is very much a pervasive theme throughout the HP series. From early on, we learn about Harry, the boy who lived; the boy who was orphaned and went to live with his aunt and uncle. I wanted to dedicate this thread to the theme of death; it's different aspects; how it affects and how it is perceived by the different characters in the books; and how this premise seems to enthrall readers of all ages.

How has this very real theme affected you as a reader? Has it broadened your scope; do you find yourself imagining how it will affect you?

Is the theme of death as a plot device warranted in a children's book? Will children understand it? Are there similarities between how death is portrayed in the HP series and between other books which have been published; comparisons with authors.

Did Rowling purposefully choose this topic as a center point since this was something she was dealing with in her own life at the time she began writing the HP series?

How has this theme enriched your understanding and enjoyment of the HP books; has it changed your life in any way? Do you find that you compare yourself to the characters and what they go through?

Parents; how has the theme of death affected you; has this opened communication with your own children; I am sure their curiosity will have brought up many questions.

Death affects each and every character in the book; either directly or indirectly; just as it affects those of us in the very real Muggle world.

These are just some proposed questions and food for thought if you will. Please feel free to contribute anything that I might have inadvertently omitted in my opening post. You are more than welcome to bring in your own opinions, queries, and of course complaints as well.


This post has been edited by lirene: Mar 26 2008, 05:51 PM


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lirene
post Apr 24 2008, 12:16 PM
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QUOTE(The-T-Dane @ Apr 24 2008, 12:48 PM) *
Very illuminating for me to read and participate in this thread.
As for your question, lirene, I "totally" agree with JKR !

Your participation in this thread is well received, T-Dane smile.gif. And I would also like to say to those of you who have already posted here to congratulate you on your wonderful and insightful posts thumbup.gif Keep them coming!

I too believe that the theme of "death" is most probably the most pervasive theme throughout the series; and it's just as important as love. And notice, death as a consequence of love is also a combined theme, if you will which Rowling has brought forth in the series. Lily died to protect Harry because she loved him; James died for the love of his family and to protect them too. All of the people fighting at the battle of Hogwarts were fighting for Harry; and ultimately Harry sacrificed hiself in the forest not only to destroy Voldemort's soul bit, but by doing so, he unwittingly provided protection for those fighting in the battle; those he loved.

It's interesting too why Rowling chose not to kill off Arthur in OOTP after the attack by Nagini. Notice, she doesn't think Ron will be able to handle it emotionally; he isn't emotionally mature to have endured his father's death. By keeping Arthur in the story (sure Rowling loved Arthur's character too, which is another reason she kept him in the story), she keeps Ron focused on Harry; Harry needs Ron to get through his mission in DH. Rowling didn't want to create another "orphan".

Notice too, that Neville's parents are still alive. True, they are mentally incapacitated; and they can't be parents to Neville. Howver, the fact that they are indeed still part of the living world is significant to me as a reader. Because I have always believed that Neville knowing that his parents are still alive anchor him if you will. They aren't permanently gone from his life. Are they any use to him in the capacity of parents? Unfortunately, no, but they are still there nonetheless. I don't believe Neville's character would have developed in such a positive manner had his parents been deceased. Plus, Neville doesn't have the strong bond of friendship that Harry has with Ron and Hermione. I have always been a proponent of the strong bonds of friendship; such a strong bond goes a long way in being emotionally therapeutic. Neville isn't as close to the trio as he would like to be and for a long time I was annoyed that Harry kept Neville at bay and out of his inner circle. I was happy when Neville finally came into his own and became very close to the trio, as we see in the epilogue in DH when Hermione sends her love to Neville smile.gif.


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- lirene   Death as a Plot Device in Harry Potter   Mar 26 2008, 05:46 PM
- - tryston009   QUOTE(lirene @ Mar 26 2008, 05:46 PM) How...   Mar 28 2008, 01:15 AM
- - HedwigIsntDead   QUOTEHow has this very real theme affected you as ...   Mar 28 2008, 03:57 AM
- - Dora87   QUOTEHow has this very real theme affected you as ...   Mar 28 2008, 09:18 AM
- - lirene   QUOTE(tryston009 @ Mar 28 2008, 02:15 AM)...   Mar 28 2008, 11:33 AM
|- - The-T-Dane   QUOTEIs the theme of death as a plot device warran...   Apr 15 2008, 04:50 PM
- - ljsonline   It is interesting to see your views, and this spri...   Mar 28 2008, 01:26 PM
|- - lirene   QUOTE(ljsonline @ Mar 28 2008, 02:26 PM) ...   Mar 29 2008, 09:44 AM
|- - Star of Isis   It's impossible to discuss death in HP without...   Apr 15 2008, 02:14 PM
- - tryston009   QUOTE(lirene @ Mar 29 2008, 09:44 AM) QUO...   Mar 29 2008, 10:50 AM
- - lirene   Thanks tryston009 for your kind remarks ! Kee...   Apr 4 2008, 02:12 PM
|- - MouldyVoldy   QUOTE(lirene @ Apr 4 2008, 07:12 PM) For ...   Jul 2 2009, 05:46 PM
|- - Mione Weasley   QUOTE(lirene @ Apr 4 2008, 02:12 PM) For ...   Jul 6 2009, 12:16 AM
- - Alkari   I agree with you lirene, that the 'loss' o...   Apr 14 2008, 12:14 AM
- - Alkari   QUOTEI was introduced to death when my mother pass...   Apr 15 2008, 11:02 PM
- - Star of Isis   I wonder how JKR felt when she was introducing a c...   Apr 16 2008, 08:25 PM
|- - The-T-Dane   QUOTE(Star of Isis @ Apr 17 2008, 02:25 A...   Apr 17 2008, 12:46 PM
|- - Star of Isis   QUOTE(The-T-Dane @ Apr 17 2008, 07...   Apr 18 2008, 10:26 AM
|- - The-T-Dane   QUOTE(Star of Isis @ Apr 18 2008, 04:26 P...   Apr 18 2008, 02:46 PM
- - Alkari   I also can't see how people call Neville ...   Apr 18 2008, 04:18 PM
|- - The-T-Dane   QUOTE(Alkari @ Apr 18 2008, 10:18 PM) (Of...   Apr 18 2008, 05:14 PM
- - Maime the Hunter   QUOTEAnyway, there's a saying that what doesn...   Apr 18 2008, 04:18 PM
- - Alkari   I am well aware that many children in RL are abuse...   Apr 19 2008, 03:48 AM
- - Maime the Hunter   QUOTEMine was merely a passing remark: I simply fo...   Apr 19 2008, 02:07 PM
- - Alkari   It doesn't really matter whether it is Hero...   Apr 19 2008, 04:46 PM
- - The-T-Dane   Another angle (besides my earlier input around suf...   Apr 20 2008, 11:59 AM
|- - Star of Isis   QUOTE(The-T-Dane @ Apr 20 2008, 05...   Apr 27 2008, 07:56 PM
|- - The-T-Dane   QUOTE(Star of Isis @ Apr 28 2008, 01:56 A...   Apr 28 2008, 08:53 AM
- - lirene   QUOTE(Alkari @ Apr 14 2008, 01:14 AM) I a...   Apr 24 2008, 10:35 AM
|- - The-T-Dane   QUOTE(lirene @ Apr 24 2008, 05:35 PM) I r...   Apr 24 2008, 11:48 AM
- - lirene   QUOTE(The-T-Dane @ Apr 24 2008, 12...   Apr 24 2008, 12:16 PM
|- - Emms   I agree with everyone who's saying that this t...   May 31 2009, 12:42 AM
|- - Emms   I agree with everyone who's saying that this t...   May 31 2009, 12:43 AM
- - Lost Centaur   I'd like to point out that both Harry and Nevi...   Apr 25 2008, 02:39 PM
- - lirene   QUOTE(Lost Centaur @ Apr 25 2008, 03:39 P...   Apr 25 2008, 03:15 PM
- - lirene   QUOTE(Star of Isis @ Apr 27 2008, 08:56 P...   May 3 2008, 06:03 PM
- - lirene   I had an interesting conversation last week with o...   Apr 26 2009, 07:37 PM
|- - roonwit   QUOTE(lirene @ Apr 27 2009, 01:37 AM) I h...   Apr 27 2009, 08:09 AM
|- - Mrs_Linnea_Snape   QUOTE(roonwit @ Apr 27 2009, 09:09 AM) QU...   Apr 27 2009, 09:54 PM
|- - hg1   QUOTE(Mrs_Linnea_Snape @ Apr 28 2009, 02...   Apr 29 2009, 03:48 PM
- - Shard   I am not sure what you mean by the question. I don...   Apr 26 2009, 09:58 PM
- - enchantedphoenix   QUOTE(lirene @ Apr 26 2009, 07:37 PM) I h...   May 3 2009, 09:24 PM
- - wickedboy   I thought death was used in some of the above ways...   May 31 2009, 09:46 AM
- - ChristianWizardWorld   "Children's book"? Hardly! The c...   Jun 5 2009, 05:23 PM
- - chloe squibbulus   I think it was a beautiful, but not necessarily un...   Jun 6 2009, 02:03 PM


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