Comments on: Peter David on “Order of the Phoenix” http://www.hyperborea.org/journal/2003/07/pad-hp5/ Sci-fi, comics, humor, photos...it's all fair game. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:01:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: John Nowak http://www.hyperborea.org/journal/2003/07/pad-hp5/#comment-49383 John Nowak Wed, 10 Feb 2010 05:07:49 +0000 http://www.hyperborea.org/journal/archives/2003/07/07/peter-david-on-iorder-of-the-phoenixi/#comment-49383 You said it perfectly You said it perfectly

]]> By: Kizi http://www.hyperborea.org/journal/2003/07/pad-hp5/#comment-391 Kizi Sun, 18 Jul 2004 23:25:00 +0000 http://www.hyperborea.org/journal/archives/2003/07/07/peter-david-on-iorder-of-the-phoenixi/#comment-391 I really liked Peter David's review. I like this one, as it really shows the weaker side of Dumbledore. More like this, please! But Sirus' death SUCKS! I really liked Peter David’s review. I like this one, as it really shows the weaker side of Dumbledore. More like this, please! But Sirus’ death SUCKS!

]]> By: Daniel http://www.hyperborea.org/journal/2003/07/pad-hp5/#comment-110 Daniel Sat, 12 Jul 2003 12:32:39 +0000 http://www.hyperborea.org/journal/archives/2003/07/07/peter-david-on-iorder-of-the-phoenixi/#comment-110 (spoiler alert) Although the content of the revelation in the prophecy itself was utterly bland, that very blandness seems to me to add significant complication to the Harry/Dumbledore relationship. Whether Dumbledore has seriously underestimated Harry or not will become clear as we see the effects on Harry's character of his absolute certainty that he must fight Voldemort to the death in the end. Of course, this is something that we've known or at least anticipated all along, because we know how drama works, but Harry himself would lack that insight, blissfully unaware of his role as chief protagonist in a dramatic fiction. Sure, he's constantly the center of attention and he's well aware that he and Voldemort have an arch-nemesistic relationship, but that's very different from being told you are predestined to kill your foe or die at his hands. So maybe that doesn't warrant the suspense built in Dumbledore's office as the headmaster gathers the courage to tell Harry the prophecy, but if J.K.R. is conscious of the obviousness of the prophecy, then wow, look how human Dumbledore really is. Something bothers me about the phrasing of the prophecy, though. J.K.R. is too careful with words to let the literal meaning of "neither can survive while the other lives" slip. They're both surviving while the other lives, and they've done so for some time. Maybe I'm being too picky, or maybe Dumbledore is chickening out at the last minute and supplanting "while" for "unless." It'd add even more depth to his crying. I wouldn't envy the task of explaining this later on, but J.K.R.'s never shied away from exposition. At any rate, even if I'm being picky and we accept the interpretation provided, that their longevities are mutually exclusive, while this information may not be of magnificant practical use to Harry or the Order at this moment, it seems like tremendously valuable information to keep out of Voldemort's grasp. Remember, the primary reason to kill Harry at the end of Goblet of Fire was to keep him from announcing Voldemort's return. Okay, there's the obvious grudge too, but Voldy's smart enough to bide his time once Harry's out of his reach. Given an easy opportunity, he'd undoubtedly try to kill Harry; but it's not an immediate priority. If the Order knows that there must needs be a showdown between Harry and Voldy, and the outcome is uncertain, it's in their interest to keep Harry safe for now and Voldy ignorant of the implication that killing Harry is all he has to do to win. So why not smash the prophecy to begin with? Maybe keeping it intact serves to remind Voldy of his own ignorance, and the consequent tactical disadvantage. That's a powerful psychological weapon. Am I overanalyzing this? Probably. But it's something to do when you can't sleep and it's 5:30 a.m., isn't it? (spoiler alert)
Although the content of the revelation in the prophecy itself was utterly bland, that very blandness seems to me to add significant complication to the Harry/Dumbledore relationship. Whether Dumbledore has seriously underestimated Harry or not will become clear as we see the effects on Harry’s character of his absolute certainty that he must fight Voldemort to the death in the end. Of course, this is something that we’ve known or at least anticipated all along, because we know how drama works, but Harry himself would lack that insight, blissfully unaware of his role as chief protagonist in a dramatic fiction. Sure, he’s constantly the center of attention and he’s well aware that he and Voldemort have an arch-nemesistic relationship, but that’s very different from being told you are predestined to kill your foe or die at his hands. So maybe that doesn’t warrant the suspense built in Dumbledore’s office as the headmaster gathers the courage to tell Harry the prophecy, but if J.K.R. is conscious of the obviousness of the prophecy, then wow, look how human Dumbledore really is.

Something bothers me about the phrasing of the prophecy, though. J.K.R. is too careful with words to let the literal meaning of “neither can survive while the other lives” slip. They’re both surviving while the other lives, and they’ve done so for some time. Maybe I’m being too picky, or maybe Dumbledore is chickening out at the last minute and supplanting “while” for “unless.” It’d add even more depth to his crying. I wouldn’t envy the task of explaining this later on, but J.K.R.’s never shied away from exposition.

At any rate, even if I’m being picky and we accept the interpretation provided, that their longevities are mutually exclusive, while this information may not be of magnificant practical use to Harry or the Order at this moment, it seems like tremendously valuable information to keep out of Voldemort’s grasp. Remember, the primary reason to kill Harry at the end of Goblet of Fire was to keep him from announcing Voldemort’s return. Okay, there’s the obvious grudge too, but Voldy’s smart enough to bide his time once Harry’s out of his reach. Given an easy opportunity, he’d undoubtedly try to kill Harry; but it’s not an immediate priority. If the Order knows that there must needs be a showdown between Harry and Voldy, and the outcome is uncertain, it’s in their interest to keep Harry safe for now and Voldy ignorant of the implication that killing Harry is all he has to do to win. So why not smash the prophecy to begin with? Maybe keeping it intact serves to remind Voldy of his own ignorance, and the consequent tactical disadvantage. That’s a powerful psychological weapon.

Am I overanalyzing this? Probably. But it’s something to do when you can’t sleep and it’s 5:30 a.m., isn’t it?

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