1. Dumbledore in his discussion of the story mentions “the quest for invulnerability” as the darkest and strongest temptation of magic and claims that we wizards are “particularly prone to the idea that we can bend the nature of existence to our will.” ( I noticed the use of the we. Dumbledore hints at his own temptations in this area, but still keeps his own past private .) Do you think that is a fair assessment? Did you see signs of that temptation in the books in anyone other than Voldemort?
I think Dumbledore said that wizards were more prone to temptation because of magic. Because magic gives them such power over the physical world, they think they can command the invisible world as well. Some wizards and witches even manage to change themselves into animals, for heaven's sake. Apart from Voldemort, we also have Dumbledore and Grindelwald, who wish for power over death so they can make Muggles submit. Lucius Malfoy exercises all his influence to get Dumbledore sacked and himself the power behind the throne.
I wonder if religion is absent from their world, or if its emphasis just isn't appropriate in a mass market children's story. There is a superficial presence of religion: Harry has a godfather and people are buried in church yards. If magic rendered religion truly unnecessary it would have been true for generations not just in modern times, so why keep even superficial religious behaviors. Many modern people live and die without any relationship to religion, for instance having at death a secular remembrance party in a funeral home followed by cremation
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Hi. I'm mostly commenting to thank you for your really interesting and thought-provoking questions, which I would totally be trying to answer if this particular story didn't really, really gross me out. I am very squeamish and haven't yet brought myself to read it a second time
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I think Dumbledore said that wizards were more prone to temptation because of magic. Because magic gives them such power over the physical world, they think they can command the invisible world as well. Some wizards and witches even manage to change themselves into animals, for heaven's sake. Apart from Voldemort, we also have Dumbledore and Grindelwald, who wish for power over death so they can make Muggles submit. Lucius Malfoy exercises all his influence to get Dumbledore sacked and himself the power behind the throne.
Snape’s promise ( ... )
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Which explains all the Draco and Snape and Lucius fans, I suppose.
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