The Deathly Hallows (Spoilers Galore)

So I loved HP7 -- loved it.  And I am going to write all about what I loved in this post, so don't click if you haven't read it and want to be surprised.

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A few weeks ago I read an article that left me convinced Harry would die.  See the last page for the bit that made me say to myself, "UGH, that makes sense and UGH, I don't want it to be right."  Somehow, oddly, it just never crossed my mind that a true Christ figure conquers death, which is pretty lame for a person who claims to have staked her hopes on the resurrection.

The crux of the story, a literal crux, is the trip Harry makes into the Forest believing he is going to die.  Do you know, I bought it.  I didn't know exactly what Rowling was going to do with the rest of the book, but I thought the game was up for Harry.  And so the King's Cross chapter made me want to jump up and down and shout YES! -- because a life laid down willingly for the good of the many cannot truly be lost. I was surprised by the scriptural references that peppered the book, and surprised too by the line from John's gospel that kept running through my head:  "I lay my life down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and authority to take it up again."

Mother love can change the world.  "Foolish girl," Voldemort called Lily, but her folly was his undoing. Lily's sacrifice shielded Harry in his crib and in the confrontation with Quirrell, and when Voldemort tried to overcome it, he only ensured his eventual death.  I love that. And the moment when Harry, facing his own death, asks his mother to stay close to him?  I would tell you something articulate about how it makes me feel, except I'm too busy crying at the memory. I also loved the scene when Molly Weasley took out Bellatrix.  Sometimes I feel a bit like Molly Weasley, bellowing at her kids as they go blithely ahead with what they were doing.  But when the chips were down, it was her fierce love for her family that equipped her to defeat the apparently invincible Bellatrix.

Evil is repulsive. I liked this book because it showed so many Death Eater changes of heart.  Bellatrix is clearly crazy, but others have second thoughts about serving Voldemort. (And how about that horrible Wormtail scene? and Voldemort's hidden meaning in Book 4, when he gave Wormtail the hand and said, "May your loyalty never waver again"?) Evil seems alluring, Rowling says, but don't be fooled or you'll regret it in the end.

Physical labor is good for your soul. It took me years after I stopped watching "Bewitched" to stop wishing I could twitch my nose and have folded laundry or a tidy room.  It's probably easy for kids reading the HP books now to have similar thoughts -- wouldn't life be easier if you could just wave a wand to do the boring repetitive stuff?  I loved the scene in which Harry dug Dobby's grave.  In this work of mercy he finds the answers he has awaited, the clarity that ends the aimless slogging. It is also his willingness to labor for Dobby that catches Griphook's attention and paves the way for the Gringott's expedition.

On a related note, I liked the slogging in the forest after it was all over.  The first time through I detested it.  I wanted to call up her editor and say, "What were you thinking?" But you know, life is a slog.  The part where you conquer your opponent and everyone hoists you up into the air cheering -- you don't get there unless you're willing to put in the time, whether at Quidditch practice or lost in the woods. It's a good message for a kids' book, I think, and the grownups can probably use an occasional reminder too.

It is a gift to be an incarnate soul. As he walks into the Forest Harry is grateful for the body he has been given, for the miracle of his beating heart. Rowling encourages us to live life gratefully, remembering that it is short and unpredictable. At first I found it wildly implausible that Voldemort could have created a Horcrux accidentally, but it makes sense to me on reflection.  When you begin to sacrifice your own integrity, your literal whole-ness, you can't know where it will end.  I was touched, too, by Dumbledore's desire to keep Malfoy's soul intact.

Mercy triumphs over judgment. When Voldemort's followers sought forgiveness, he tortured them. Even at the bitter end, Harry challenges Voldemort to turn away from evil, to find remorse.  And I loved it that he rejected the advice to stop Disarming opponents -- the signature move he was cautioned against does exactly what he needs it to do.

These are big truths, and it would have been easy to make the book heavy-handed.  But it is not.  During the last battle I kept laughing aloud -- at McGonagall in action, at Neville coming into his own, at Ron's response to Peeves' victory song.  Not since childhood have I been so fond of a set of fictional characters, and I will miss peeking in the windows, especially at the Weasleys' home.  Of course the books are flawed, but I have been a little bemused by some of the posts complaining about their shortcomings.  They're books for children, written by someone who has never pretended that they are anything else. They are full of inventiveness, full of fun, and -- who knew? -- full of truth.

Comments

[Sarabeth]

I, too, cried when Harry asked his mother to stay close. Rowling must have channeled all her feelings as a mother to write that scene.

[pnuts mama]

cj, i just wanted to sincerely say that i am so happy that you like HP- as a CYM i have butted heads with so many fellow catholics who are violently opposed to HP, never for a moment opening their minds to the idea that it could be used for a learning tool for our faith, like so many other literary masterpieces. i'm glad book 7 really brought this to light, and i'm looking forward to reading it!

[Lisa C.]

I've now read the book 3 times, and I'm starting to be OK with it. This last time I read it I stopped at the end and didn't read the epilogue and I think that's how I'll have to read it from now on, because it ends much better without the epilogue, in my opinion.

I did find many of the inconsistencies disconcerting, mainly because I was expecting the last book to be perfect, and I felt the editing and the story were rushed. So the first time I read it I felt pretty let down.

However, subsequent readings have made me appreciate the story more than I ever thought I would. Harry's beautiful nature really shines in this story... he is certainly a true Gryffindor.

I think "The Prince's Tale" (the chapter where Snape reveals his role in the events) is one of the finest chapter in the entire series. His grief over Lily's death was palpable, and he had to overcome a lot to agree to help the son of the man he hated, and the woman he loved.

The living in the woods part of the book... I despised it on the first read, but once again, on subsequent reads I have come to terms with it and appreciate it for what it is.

I really think the books are a gift... I find something new in them every time I read them.

[Elena]

Now I can't wait to get it!

[Sarah]

I quite agree with your assessment! I enjoyed the books as well. I'm sorry to see that they're done, but I think I shall enjoy reading them again.

[Stephanie]

I also liked Neville's role in bringing Voldemort down. Neville fit the description of the prophecy as much as Harry; I like that he took down Nagini in the end.

My only gripe is - shouldn't Hermione have been a professor at Hogwarts, too? That's where I imagine her happiest.

[Meira]

I'm so annoyed that we got no mention of Luna in the epilogue . . . and I wanted more time to get to know Harry & Ginny together.

[ann (fchen)]

for meira, above, there was an interview w/rowlings that addresses Luna & gives more info in general of the epilogue (i took this from beyondhowgarts.com):

UPDATE: J.K. gives away more secrets!

On Monday, July 30, J.K. Rowling gave a live on-line webcast interview, and she gave out more information as to what happens in the time of the epilogue in Book 7.

J.K. said the world was a sunnier, happier place after the seventh book and the death of Voldemort.

Harry Potter, who always voiced a desire to become an Auror, or someone who fights dark wizards, was named head of the Auror Department under the new wizarding government headed by his friend and ally, Kingsley Shacklebolt.

His wife, Ginny Weasley, stuck with her athletic career, playing for the Holyhead Harpies, the all-female Quidditch team. Eventually, Ginny left the team to raise their three children -- James, Albus and Lily -- while writing as the senior Quidditch correspondent for the wizarding newspaper, the Daily Prophet.

When asked "What child did harry give the marauders map to if any," J.K. said, "I've got a feeling he didn't give it to any of them, but that James sneaked it out of his father's desk one day."

Contrary to a quote in an earlier interview, J.K. says Ron Weasley joined his brother, George, as a partner at their successful joke shop, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. George named his first child and son Fred, and he goes on to have a very successful career, helped by Ron.

Hermione Granger, Ron's wife, furthered the rights of subjugated creatures, such as house elves, in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures before joining the magical law enforcement squad. The couple had two children -- Rose and Hugo.

Harry and his friends have their own history depicted on Chocolate Frogs cards. Ron will describe this as his finest hour.

A new, improved Percy ended up as a high-ranking official in the new Ministry of Magic under Kingsley. Dolores Umbridge was arrested, interrogated and imprisoned for crimes against Muggleborns.

Teddy Lupin grew up living with his grandmother Andromeda. However, unlike Neville, who was also raised by his grandmother, Teddy had his godfather, Harry, and all his father's friends in the Order, to visit and stay with.

Luna Lovegood, Harry's airily distracted friend with a love for imaginary animals who joins the fight against Voldemort in the Order of the Phoenix, becomes a famous wizarding naturalist who eventually marries the grandson of Newt Scamander, author of "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them."

Scorpius Malfoy has a lot going against him, not least that name. However, J.K. said she thinks Scorpius would be an improvement on his father.

Winky the House-Elf is still at Hogwarts, and she was one of the oncoming house-elves who attacked the Death Eaters in the final battle.

After the battle, Firenze was welcomed back into the herd. The rest of the herd was forced to acknowledge that Firenze's pro-human leanings were not shameful, but honourable. And Mr. weasley did eventually get around to fixing Sirius' motorbike. Of course, it ended up in Harry's possession.

When asked would Lockhart ever recover, J.K. replied, "No. Nor would I want him to. He's happy where he is, and I'm happier without him!"

[Amie]

I just finished the books and had to come back and read this as I avoided all spoilers. On my blog I just said almost the exact same thing about not caring for fictional characters like this in a LONG time and also that I related to Mrs. Weasly the most ;)

Very good thoughts here!