The whole HP series sort of reminds me vaguely of that essay on Pet Semetary we discussed one time, where the whole story (which the essayist believed was a failure, thematically speaking) is not just about the fear of death, but reveals what appears to be a fixation about it of the authors.
I mean, the fact that Lily's sacrifice, while heroic, is painted as something unbelievably awe-inspiring (I thought she'd just hand over her baby to the psycho killer!) is almost creepy. This is how terrifying death is, that a choice which would seem to be a no-brainer to most people (not that you can tell until you're in the moment, but I can't imagine anyone even caving for a stranger's child) is not even expected to be the norm but is supposed to be a one in a million style act of bravery.
And yet on the other side you almost have the worship of death with the Gryffindors who don't seem capable of playing tag unless there's the chance of a fatality; and this contempt for anyone who might be frightened not only of dying, but of injury or pain, where it's literally more honourable not just to be brave but to reject fear (while still remaining human, blah-de-blah - still haven't started the book, but I rolled my eyes hearing about Harry's "childish" line wondering if death hurts. My heartstrings, they were plucked! Not.) completely; where the ultimate evil is represented by a fear of death.
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Date: 2007-07-24 12:15 am (UTC)I mean, the fact that Lily's sacrifice, while heroic, is painted as something unbelievably awe-inspiring (I thought she'd just hand over her baby to the psycho killer!) is almost creepy.
This is how terrifying death is, that a choice which would seem to be a no-brainer to most people (not that you can tell until you're in the moment, but I can't imagine anyone even caving for a stranger's child) is not even expected to be the norm but is supposed to be a one in a million style act of bravery.
And yet on the other side you almost have the worship of death with the Gryffindors who don't seem capable of playing tag unless there's the chance of a fatality; and this contempt for anyone who might be frightened not only of dying, but of injury or pain, where it's literally more honourable not just to be brave but to reject fear (while still remaining human, blah-de-blah - still haven't started the book, but I rolled my eyes hearing about Harry's "childish" line wondering if death hurts. My heartstrings, they were plucked! Not.) completely; where the ultimate evil is represented by a fear of death.