Mormon Mentality - Thoughts and Asides by Peculiar People

By danithew

Jul. 23rd, 2007 at 9:49 am

The release of the final Harry Potter book has certainly been some kind of phenomenon. It’s been interesting to see the reactions to the book both on and offline.

If you have finished reading the last book and want to share your thoughts or if you just want to share your thoughts in general about the Harry Potter series, feel free to use this open thread.

[Depending on reader responses, there may or may not be SPOILERS in the comments ... so readers be warned.]

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1. danithew

Mon, Jul 23, 2007 @ 9:51am

Having posted, here are some of my personal thoughts …

My wife and I purchased the book on Saturday. We’ve both read through it now, so we know how it ends.

As I thought about the Harry Potter books this morning and the way the story has developed, I think Snape is the most interesting and complex character in the series.

2. danithew

Mon, Jul 23, 2007 @ 10:27am

SPOILER AHEAD

I may or may not understand fully the theory that arises around the – but as I understand it, there was or is a group of people that believed Jesus instructed Judas to betray him – that Judas was in fact being obedient to Jesus’s wishes and was a steadfastly loyal disciple with an unfortunate role to play. From this perspective, Judas was needed as a catalyst to set up the events that would end in the Atonement. Obviously this is not a Mormon perspective at all – but it’s one narrative of events that is out there.

It seems that Rowling gives Snape a similar role to play in the Harry Potter plot. It’s a very strange role to be in – he is detestable in many ways and yet he is also a brave hero.

3. Brian D.

Mon, Jul 23, 2007 @ 11:37am

And all of this time I thought it was the butler who did it! :-)

4. Dan

Mon, Jul 23, 2007 @ 9:25pm

danithew,

that Judas theory comes from the Gospel of Judas discovered not too long ago purportedly written by Judas. It is apocryphal so take it with a grain of salt. Most likely J.K. Rowling looked this up and tied it in with her story.

That said I have not yet read the book. Jaime has been hogging it. :P
I did read the ending though. I hated the suspense, especially with some dorks on the Internet releasing supposed plot spoilers before the book was out. So I know who dies but I don’t know why. It will still be a very interesting read. :)

5. ddb9

Tue, Jul 24, 2007 @ 12:09am

I like that J.K. Rowling paints a rather LDS picture of the afterlife. The same sociality the exists in this life extends into the next. That family relationships are eternal and are the true treasures of existence.

6. DKL

Tue, Jul 24, 2007 @ 12:43am

Dan, it goes back much further than that. For example, the musical Jesus Christ Superstar from the 60s and later the book The Last Temptation of Christ both depict such a scenario.

7. danithew

Fri, Jul 27, 2007 @ 10:16am

I saw a bit of an interview with Rowling on television and she said something interesting about Snape. She does not think highly of him at all. She said he’s “a bully” and used some other not-so-nice but candid words to describe him. Her assessment made perfect sense for someone like me who hasn’t paid attention to every detail.

She said that the good things Snape does are done purely because of his devotion to Harry’s mother – that otherwise and apart from that he wouldn’t take any interest in Harry’s welfare.

I thought that was interesting as well. Snape is mostly a very self-centered personality – his main virtuous attribute seems to be this very qualified and limited kind of love – that does still have a powerful effect to motivate him towards doing what might be considered heroic deeds.