Harry Potter and St. Patrick...
I had a wonderful theory inspired by some co-workers of mine and by Harry's beautiful eyes...Harry may well be Irish and is possibly indirectly connected with St Patrick and St. Patrick's Day...
Harry is a parselmouth with the ability to speak to snakes and even avert snake and serpent attacks...well I've seen several interesting websites on St Patrick and as someone mentioned, St Patrick (who is actually originally from Scotland) also repelled snakes from Ireland...or so according to popular legend.
That really did remind me of Harry, esp. since it is hinted that St. Patrick also spoke to the snakes and serpents to get them to leave Ireland. Remember, though, that this is just a legend, a myth; I'm not stating it as fact that St Patrick actually drove the serpents out of Ireland.
In the books and films, Harry also banishes snakes and serpents just like it is often said that St Patrick did; when he speaks parseltongue, it's to stop an attack.
I've also suspected that Harry has some Irish roots in him also...his very fair complexion that turns red easily, his jet-black hair, his snub nose, and his green almond-shaped eyes suggest that he may possibly be part Irish going way, way back (though I certainly understand that not all Irish ppl. have these features). Also, in PS, when he looks into the mirror of erisel and sees his parents and his ancestors, it is noted that most of them either had red or jet-black hair.
Also, this article on leprechauns caught my attention...Harry does rather resemble a fairy...small, thin and light and is talented at flying.
But more to this, the legend that leprechauns have a secret pot of gold could also be linked to Harry's "pot of gold" in being that he was a treasure of deep love hidden inside of him. The leprechauns' legend is that hunters try to threaten the leprechaun in the hopes of gaining that treasure and threaten violence, but the hunter must keep their eyes on the leprechaun at all times, otherwise the leprechaun vanishes and the treasure is lost to the hunter.
Link this to Riddle's being the "hunter" attempting to gain Harry's "treasure" (love) and not being able to. Riddle uses violence in attempts to gain the "treasure" and attempts to keep his eyes on Harry (by making Harry and others believe that he has this all-powerful supposed "link" to Harry), but Riddle looks away and Harry escapes, so breaking the spell and revealing that Riddle does not have that alleged "link" since he cannot get to the "treasure."
Also, leprechauns have the reputation for being rather aloof and often live alone, which could be a mataphor for Harry's being shy, quiet (but not passive!), and reserved and keeping a lot to himself and keeping much inside.
In addition, St Patrick, Ireland, and leprechauns are associated with good luck and all and Harry sure does bring good luck to many, as I've hinted in an earlier essay of mine.
I wonder if JK was indirectly thinking of this legend about St Patrick and the snakes when she decided to make Harry a parselmouth and wrote about Harry's deep love and Riddle not being able to defeat that love?
Comments? Questions? A St. Patrick's Day wish? Anything I left out?
Harry is a parselmouth with the ability to speak to snakes and even avert snake and serpent attacks...well I've seen several interesting websites on St Patrick and as someone mentioned, St Patrick (who is actually originally from Scotland) also repelled snakes from Ireland...or so according to popular legend.
That really did remind me of Harry, esp. since it is hinted that St. Patrick also spoke to the snakes and serpents to get them to leave Ireland. Remember, though, that this is just a legend, a myth; I'm not stating it as fact that St Patrick actually drove the serpents out of Ireland.
In the books and films, Harry also banishes snakes and serpents just like it is often said that St Patrick did; when he speaks parseltongue, it's to stop an attack.
I've also suspected that Harry has some Irish roots in him also...his very fair complexion that turns red easily, his jet-black hair, his snub nose, and his green almond-shaped eyes suggest that he may possibly be part Irish going way, way back (though I certainly understand that not all Irish ppl. have these features). Also, in PS, when he looks into the mirror of erisel and sees his parents and his ancestors, it is noted that most of them either had red or jet-black hair.
Also, this article on leprechauns caught my attention...Harry does rather resemble a fairy...small, thin and light and is talented at flying.
But more to this, the legend that leprechauns have a secret pot of gold could also be linked to Harry's "pot of gold" in being that he was a treasure of deep love hidden inside of him. The leprechauns' legend is that hunters try to threaten the leprechaun in the hopes of gaining that treasure and threaten violence, but the hunter must keep their eyes on the leprechaun at all times, otherwise the leprechaun vanishes and the treasure is lost to the hunter.
Link this to Riddle's being the "hunter" attempting to gain Harry's "treasure" (love) and not being able to. Riddle uses violence in attempts to gain the "treasure" and attempts to keep his eyes on Harry (by making Harry and others believe that he has this all-powerful supposed "link" to Harry), but Riddle looks away and Harry escapes, so breaking the spell and revealing that Riddle does not have that alleged "link" since he cannot get to the "treasure."
Also, leprechauns have the reputation for being rather aloof and often live alone, which could be a mataphor for Harry's being shy, quiet (but not passive!), and reserved and keeping a lot to himself and keeping much inside.
In addition, St Patrick, Ireland, and leprechauns are associated with good luck and all and Harry sure does bring good luck to many, as I've hinted in an earlier essay of mine.
I wonder if JK was indirectly thinking of this legend about St Patrick and the snakes when she decided to make Harry a parselmouth and wrote about Harry's deep love and Riddle not being able to defeat that love?
Comments? Questions? A St. Patrick's Day wish? Anything I left out?