Naming allusions
An observation on a certain name choice in Harry Potter.
While re-reading the Harry Potter books I made connection. One so obvious I feel silly for not noticing it before and went to check this group’s memories just to make sure no one else had brought it up:
Dumbledore’s pet phoenix is named Fawkes. As in, Guy Fawkes.
Why this is awesome:
1) Guy Fawkes, for those of you who aren’t British, haven’t read Alan Moore, or haven’t been to the movies since GOF, is famous for his plot to blow up Parliament and overthrow the king. Guy = heavy anti-establishment stance. Dumbledore = same thing. This is an oversimplification of course, but still true in the basics. Fawkes was patriotic to the extreme (his biggest problem with King James was that he was Scottish). While Dumbeldore certainly isn’t a racist he is loyal to his, not country, but government. Loyal in that, if he sees something wrong, he will change it.
2) Guy’s appearance, according to online Britannia was “a tall, powerfully built man, with thick reddish-brown hair, flowing moustache, and a bushy reddish-brown beard.” Phoenixes have crimson plumes and bodies. Sure I’m reaching but it’s neat all the same.
Just from my short reading on Guy, I have a tiny theory.
Fact: the cores of both Harry and Voldemort’s wands contain a feather from Fawkes, the only two with this core.
It seems to me that Harry got the best Guy Fawkes characteristics while Voldemort got the worst. While Harry is in favor of established government as long as the current administration undergoes some drastic changes. Harry is for the type who says that Guy is “the only man to enter Parliament with honorable intentions.” Voldemort is the racist and the anarchist. In short, while Voldemort is an extremist, Harry is slightly more moderate and at the other end of the political spectrum. I think one theme that is abundantly clear in the Harry Potter books is that extremism is never, ever a good thing. Umbridge is just as evil as Voldemort, only without the headcount.
At this point I shall add that I am not British myself (though I did know who Guy Fawkes was before V for Vendetta came out) so any of you lucky enough to actually celebrate this intriguing holiday comments please. And while you’re hacking me to pieces, can you answer a question for me? What is the nature of the celebration? Are you celebrating the man or that he got caught?
Thanks.
While re-reading the Harry Potter books I made connection. One so obvious I feel silly for not noticing it before and went to check this group’s memories just to make sure no one else had brought it up:
Dumbledore’s pet phoenix is named Fawkes. As in, Guy Fawkes.
Why this is awesome:
1) Guy Fawkes, for those of you who aren’t British, haven’t read Alan Moore, or haven’t been to the movies since GOF, is famous for his plot to blow up Parliament and overthrow the king. Guy = heavy anti-establishment stance. Dumbledore = same thing. This is an oversimplification of course, but still true in the basics. Fawkes was patriotic to the extreme (his biggest problem with King James was that he was Scottish). While Dumbeldore certainly isn’t a racist he is loyal to his, not country, but government. Loyal in that, if he sees something wrong, he will change it.
2) Guy’s appearance, according to online Britannia was “a tall, powerfully built man, with thick reddish-brown hair, flowing moustache, and a bushy reddish-brown beard.” Phoenixes have crimson plumes and bodies. Sure I’m reaching but it’s neat all the same.
Just from my short reading on Guy, I have a tiny theory.
Fact: the cores of both Harry and Voldemort’s wands contain a feather from Fawkes, the only two with this core.
It seems to me that Harry got the best Guy Fawkes characteristics while Voldemort got the worst. While Harry is in favor of established government as long as the current administration undergoes some drastic changes. Harry is for the type who says that Guy is “the only man to enter Parliament with honorable intentions.” Voldemort is the racist and the anarchist. In short, while Voldemort is an extremist, Harry is slightly more moderate and at the other end of the political spectrum. I think one theme that is abundantly clear in the Harry Potter books is that extremism is never, ever a good thing. Umbridge is just as evil as Voldemort, only without the headcount.
At this point I shall add that I am not British myself (though I did know who Guy Fawkes was before V for Vendetta came out) so any of you lucky enough to actually celebrate this intriguing holiday comments please. And while you’re hacking me to pieces, can you answer a question for me? What is the nature of the celebration? Are you celebrating the man or that he got caught?
Thanks.