Life of Pride
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
In a blinding flash of light, a theory about the Harry Potter series struck me a few days ago. The more I think about it, the more it makes (potential) sense. Now, I don't know if Rowling is really this subtle. The whole theory, actually, is based upon the premise that Rowling cannot possibly be as obvious as she seemed to be in the latest book. Something's just doesn't click here, unless she ran out of trickiness, because the first several books fit together so well.
1. Sirius can't really be dead, at least not permanently. He disappeared too suddenly at the end of book 5, with too little explanation.
*** BOOK 6 SPOILERS AHEAD! ***
2. Snape can't really be evil. The scene with him and the Malfoy women at the very beginning of book 6 was just too obvious, and Dumbledore has trusted him for too long. The Death Eaters distrusted Snape, of which Dumbledore was probably very aware. Is it possible that Dumbledore set up his own murder - or faked murder - in order to get Snape into Voldemort's inner circle? I mean, why would Dumbledore make a late-night expedition with only Harry and then freeze him under his invisibility cloak so that he could not help the situation or go for help? What if he wanted a witness of the event of his "death" at Hogwarts?
Why make us pity Snape in book 5 if he is just evil? Doesn't make sense to me. Of course, again, I may be giving Rowling too much credit. The reader's pity for Snape may be an unintended consequence of revealing a point of Harry's past that was needed for the story. Rowling may not be utterly aware of all the levels of her own work.
I don't know. It is fully possible that things may be just as they seem on the surface. I know I will be disappointed if book 7 does not include some twists and turns, however.
1. Sirius can't really be dead, at least not permanently. He disappeared too suddenly at the end of book 5, with too little explanation.
*** BOOK 6 SPOILERS AHEAD! ***
2. Snape can't really be evil. The scene with him and the Malfoy women at the very beginning of book 6 was just too obvious, and Dumbledore has trusted him for too long. The Death Eaters distrusted Snape, of which Dumbledore was probably very aware. Is it possible that Dumbledore set up his own murder - or faked murder - in order to get Snape into Voldemort's inner circle? I mean, why would Dumbledore make a late-night expedition with only Harry and then freeze him under his invisibility cloak so that he could not help the situation or go for help? What if he wanted a witness of the event of his "death" at Hogwarts?
Why make us pity Snape in book 5 if he is just evil? Doesn't make sense to me. Of course, again, I may be giving Rowling too much credit. The reader's pity for Snape may be an unintended consequence of revealing a point of Harry's past that was needed for the story. Rowling may not be utterly aware of all the levels of her own work.
I don't know. It is fully possible that things may be just as they seem on the surface. I know I will be disappointed if book 7 does not include some twists and turns, however.
Comments:
Despicable? *frown* Isn't that a little harsh? I figure everyone who is reading my blog and cares to read the books probably already has at this point. If I am wrong, I apologize. It's a little hard to espouse a pet theory without mentioning details.
*Yeah, so, don't read this if you haven't read the book...*
I dunno about Sirius... I would like to see Dumbledore again.
I agree about Snape as well, Sarah... though mostly just 'cause I want to. I like the guy (yes, Carolyn, I do ;)). I rather hate for him to be evil.
However, the fact that it seems so obvious may itself be a sort of twist on a twist. In all the past books, we've grown to expect that the truth is exactly the opposite of whatever seems "obvious." To have the truth be blindingly obvious - and thus, by now, unexpected - is quite a twist. ...But I hope this is not the case :).
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I dunno about Sirius... I would like to see Dumbledore again.
I agree about Snape as well, Sarah... though mostly just 'cause I want to. I like the guy (yes, Carolyn, I do ;)). I rather hate for him to be evil.
However, the fact that it seems so obvious may itself be a sort of twist on a twist. In all the past books, we've grown to expect that the truth is exactly the opposite of whatever seems "obvious." To have the truth be blindingly obvious - and thus, by now, unexpected - is quite a twist. ...But I hope this is not the case :).
