I literally just finished so I'm still trying to digest everything and I definitely want to read it again, but Tonks and Lupin's deaths are really sad because of their son. I do like that she specifically mentions the son in the Epilogue.
In any case, I'm really happy with the ending. :) How did you feel about it?
Remus and Tonks didn't really bother me, especially since I know they were traded for Mr. Weasley... and his death would have been TERRIBLE. I guess the point is that even when the good side dies, there will still be orphans, but there is also more than parents to have a family. I am glad that Teddy and Andromeda have each other, even if he often doesn't stay home for dinner.
Dobby's death and burial were really sad, but the saddest death for me is Fred. Oh, Fred. I feel so bad for George.
Yup, 'more than parents to have a family." :-D And Grandma Andromeda already raised one MetamorphMagus with Dora Tonks, I wonder if Teddy's a werewolf also? Obviously, Neville's grandmother did a good job raising her grandson even if she was disappointed with Neville at first.
When Percy came back, I expected a Weasley to die, actually. Again, it just emphasizes the price to be paid.
There's a part of me that doesn't wonder if that isn't Percy's price for abandoning his family so early on. In the end, the Weasley family lost a son, but one they had already lost returned, also a common mythological pattern. However, even though the entire family mourns the loss of one of them, Percy, one would think, might always feel somewhat responsible because he wasn't there when he should have been. Of course, we get a 19-year jump and don't get much info on his personal journey to that point, but food for thought. . .
Yup, ;-) and Luke loses his dad, but gets to have an open sibling relationship with his sister afterward. Lucas did do a good job with archetypes, didn't he?
Realistically, none of the deaths "bother" me. I find Dobbie's and Fred's the saddest, by far, and I feel that's what you're really asking, but I think each death had its part in forging some final important characteristics in some of the major and minor players. None of them were senseless, which would have really bothered me.
And, not knowing his father or mother, then finally knowing they died for a great cause, though painful to Harry, was not destructive to him, and because of the way things ended this time, Teddy will have the support and love of a greater family than Harry knew for the first 11 years of his life. Though sad, worse things could have happened.
Yes, I was asking whose death was the saddest to everybody.
It rather surprised me that cynical, suspicious Mad-Eye Moody was the first to go, but that death emphasized that skill and "constant vigilance" aren't enough to win against Voldemort, I think. None of the deaths were senseless indeed, and I almost expected more gratuitous violence to point out the evil of Voldemort.
And I expected worse things to happen, myself. I expected either Harry, Ginny, or Ron & Hermione to go "in a blaze of glory." That would really have made it clear that sometimes a terrible, but necessary price has to be paid to defeat Voldemort as per mythic quests.
Davey didn't think that likely if Rowling ever wanted to appear in public again without tons of bodyguards. :-D
Yeah, I agree with you on Mad Eye's death's meaning. Plus, it gave an opportunity for Umbridge to do something terribly nasty, by taking what had essentially become a distinctive feature of a key member of the Order and using it to spy on her staff.
I mentioned this to Katie as I was reading, but one "problem" I had much later in the reading as I was getting tired was that I kept drawing some very strong parallels to Star Wars, at least parts Eps 4, 5 & 6, especially that of Dumbledore/Obi Wan (and to a smaller part, Yoda), the master, still training from beyond the grave, keeping secrets for the greater good. . . Of course, I'd also mentioned to Katie Lucas' very intentional mining of mythical archetypes to create his characters.
Nonetheless, if I didn't have too much work to do, I'd be reading the book again, which tells you just how damn good it was. . . :-)
I do hope Umbridge comes down with a nasty permanent skin condition, at least... "I'm scum" across her forehead would be appropriate. A liar, a toady, and her actions are way too reminiscent of some people during the Holocaust, whether against Jews, Romany, Communists, those determined by the state to be mentally retarded, or other "Undesirables" for the master Aryan race. That Umbridge is not a Death Eater, and does such terrible things, makes her that much worse to me. Grrrr...
The Malfoys are Death Eaters, and still do some good things. "When one has the potential to do great harm and does not, they must be judged not only on the good that they do, but on the evil that they refrained from doing." Can't remember where that's from, but I know the general thought is being quoted from somebody. The Malfoys all refrained from some additional evils, even though being encouraged and ordered to cause harm
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In any case, I'm really happy with the ending. :) How did you feel about it?
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Dobby's death and burial were really sad, but the saddest death for me is Fred. Oh, Fred. I feel so bad for George.
Hooray for the Malfoys! <3
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When Percy came back, I expected a Weasley to die, actually. Again, it just emphasizes the price to be paid.
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And, not knowing his father or mother, then finally knowing they died for a great cause, though painful to Harry, was not destructive to him, and because of the way things ended this time, Teddy will have the support and love of a greater family than Harry knew for the first 11 years of his life. Though sad, worse things could have happened.
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It rather surprised me that cynical, suspicious Mad-Eye Moody was the first to go, but that death emphasized that skill and "constant vigilance" aren't enough to win against Voldemort, I think. None of the deaths were senseless indeed, and I almost expected more gratuitous violence to point out the evil of Voldemort.
And I expected worse things to happen, myself. I expected either Harry, Ginny, or Ron & Hermione to go "in a blaze of glory." That would really have made it clear that sometimes a terrible, but necessary price has to be paid to defeat Voldemort as per mythic quests.
Davey didn't think that likely if Rowling ever wanted to appear in public again without tons of bodyguards. :-D
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I mentioned this to Katie as I was reading, but one "problem" I had much later in the reading as I was getting tired was that I kept drawing some very strong parallels to Star Wars, at least parts Eps 4, 5 & 6, especially that of Dumbledore/Obi Wan (and to a smaller part, Yoda), the master, still training from beyond the grave, keeping secrets for the greater good. . . Of course, I'd also mentioned to Katie Lucas' very intentional mining of mythical archetypes to create his characters.
Nonetheless, if I didn't have too much work to do, I'd be reading the book again, which tells you just how damn good it was. . . :-)
Reply
The Malfoys are Death Eaters, and still do some good things. "When one has the potential to do great harm and does not, they must be judged not only on the good that they do, but on the evil that they refrained from doing." Can't remember where that's from, but I know the general thought is being quoted from somebody. The Malfoys all refrained from some additional evils, even though being encouraged and ordered to cause harm ( ... )
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