[memyslfnI]

Author Bio

I am married, and we live in Florida with our four ducks, David, Samantha, Duckworth, and Yerpsalot, and our four rabbits, Grasshopper, Fawn, Cricket, and Max. I'm working on my master's degree in marine biology. My house is yellow.

Abstract

In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,we get to know Sirius and Buckbeak from the perspective of their animal natures, that of dog and horse. They both seem to also have strong connections to mythological eagles, and at the end of the book, we see them transform together to embrace their eagle natures.

You can read this essay here

This post has been edited by AnguaTLC: 08 February 2008 - 03:31 AM

[Prongs Patronus]

I really liked your essay, Gwynog'srabbit. I liked the animal aspects that you brought into the hero's journey, too. Do you think that Buckbeak's journey is over, as well, or do you think he will have a part to play in Book 7?



PP

[~Gidg~]

Well hun, you already know I love it Prongs-Buckbeak , I feel is going to play a fairly major part as well.

[Professor_Nigellus]

Great essay Gwynog'srabbit, I loved it.

I am with those who are wondering were we go form here. With the death of Sirius, Witherwings has passed into Harry's ownership. Harry seems to be in a simular point in his journey as Sirius was in his when he was in Azkaban, consumed by thoughts of revenge and not yet risen to his full Gryffindor potential being more reckless than he is courageous. Could we have another hero's journey; Harry and Witherwings?

[Arianhrod]

Very nicely done, Gwynog'srabbit. Most people apply the hero archetype to Harry, not to Sirius, and I'm glad someone finally did that. My only question is: Will Buckbeak/Witherwings have a role to play in the final book?

I don't think Sirius's journey is quite over yet. We are going to see him in the final book.

[Witherwings]

Very interesting, gwynog'srabbit! I particularly enjoyed reading about the history of hippogriffs, and the part about the mating of a griffin and horse symbolizing achieving the impossible. I knew I liked hippogriffs for a reason!

PS. I'm all for a sequel! Harry and Witherwings: The Legend Continues...

[Gwynogs_rabbit]

I can't wait to see what happens with Buckbeak in Book 7! I was so sad that from what we saw of him in HBP, Buckbeak was still "Witherwings" in spirit. Then at the end - YAY! - he attacked Snape in defense of Harry! I hope this means he'll be more of an partner for Harry in Book 7. Professor Nigellus, I agree that Harry does seem to be on the revenge path right now. So maybe Buckbeak has a role on Harry's journey too. It seems like Buckbeak had a huge surge of his eagle nature return right when Harry was trying as hard as he could to reek revenge on Snape. I love this line in HBP about Buckbeak, as Snape is running away from him: " (Harry) saw Snape running as hard as he could, the enormous beast flapping behind him and screeching as Harry had never heard him screech ---". Wow, isn't that cool? I love hearing raptors screech, and for Buckbeak to do it so forcefully is a really hopeful sign that he's re-owning his eagle self! Then Buckbeak flew to the gates of Hogwarts, and basically positioned himself there, circling protectively over them! Yay for Buckbeak! I hope Harry renames him in Book 7, he doesn't seem "withered" anymore!
I definitely would like to write something focused on Buckbeak. Harry's future relationship with him may be different than his relationship with Sirius, it seems. Sirius and Buckbeak were refugees together, but Harry and Buckbeak might get to be warriors together! It will be cool to see what Jo does with them.

[meera18may]

I was partilcularlly interested in this essay because i love sirius so much, so I printed it all out. And I have to say that it was briliant! Some of links you made were fabulous and the whole 'eagle and lion' i think it was, getting olong was great! Please continue to write more essays like this because I really loved this one!

Professor Nigellus, I agree that Harry does seem to be on the revenge path right now.

Uh oh, I hope like sirius, harry is saved. With all this revenge for dubledores and sirius' deaths! But I personally do not blame him for the sirius' one because he can kill bellatrix any time! (I would be more then happy to watch) :-) Yep everyone, I highly dislike the women! Anyway, back on topic, I thought the relationship that you described in your essay was how i thought that sirius and buckbeak would have gotten along, like buddies.

Thanks for this, it was an honour reading your work.

[Gwynogs_rabbit]

Thank you, Meera, and thank you everyone! I meant to thank you before for the nice things you said, it really made me feel good! I actually felt a little guilty analyzing Jo's work - I know that may sound dumb, but it kind of felt like something I read that Joseph Campbell said - that analyzing mythology reduces it to metaphor. I was worried that I was diminishing Jo's work and mythic images. The images in her story speak to us on such a profound level, and don't need explanantion, we just "know". Still, we just HAVE to discuss it, she's so brilliant!

This post has been edited by Gwynog'srabbit: 10 May 2006 - 07:21 AM

[cjopbj]

Great essay Gwynog'srabbit, I loved it.

I am with those who are wondering were we go form here. With the death of Sirius, Witherwings has passed into Harry's ownership. Harry seems to be in a simular point in his journey as Sirius was in his when he was in Azkaban, consumed by thoughts of revenge and not yet risen to his full Gryffindor potential being more reckless than he is courageous. Could we have another hero's journey; Harry and Witherwings?

We'll see Buckbeak/Witherwings in book 7 but I think ultimately he is doomed. Everyone who attacks Snape winds up dead. Even Harry has pointed that out. Not by Snape's hands. Sometimes from his actions or inactions but it is a consistant theme. It will be interesting in book 7 to see how much damage Buckbeak inflicted on Snape. This thing can knock out a werewolf, afterall. (Was that in the book or just the movie POA?? I can't remember).

I wonder what happened to Fluffy?