Wonderful essay, Peg! I found it interesting that JKR referred to the object as a deluminator in book 7 but a "Put-Outer" in previous books. For Ron, the light was extinguished inside him by the locket, and so had to be restored by the deluminator. For others, light was already inside them so they only needed it to put out lights.
Rita Skeeter seemed to hate DD, and generally revels in bringing out the worst in others. But it's amazing how people can *know* she's an absolute cow yet still consider what she has to say. It's because despite our best intentions, there is still an urge to find the worst, to seek out the dark or the shadow in Jungian terms.
So it is with Snape, that he is a dark and brooding figure whose connection with Harry and with his own redemptive process must come from the most light of light magic--a patronus. Snape only truly makes a final leap when he is no longer just listening to DD. And both Ron and Harry make a great leap forward when they learn to trust something light outside themselves. It's interesting and I'm only just thinking about it now.
Redemption is clearly a major theme in this book. I'm glad you wrote this essay.
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Rita Skeeter seemed to hate DD, and generally revels in bringing out the worst in others. But it's amazing how people can *know* she's an absolute cow yet still consider what she has to say. It's because despite our best intentions, there is still an urge to find the worst, to seek out the dark or the shadow in Jungian terms.
So it is with Snape, that he is a dark and brooding figure whose connection with Harry and with his own redemptive process must come from the most light of light magic--a patronus. Snape only truly makes a final leap when he is no longer just listening to DD. And both Ron and Harry make a great leap forward when they learn to trust something light outside themselves. It's interesting and I'm only just thinking about it now.
Redemption is clearly a major theme in this book. I'm glad you wrote this essay.