What kind of order is the Order of the Phoenix?

[sunnyskywalker]

I’ve always ignored the first part of the name of Dumbledore’s special group. “Phoenix” is interesting: Dumbledore’s familiar, connected to his interest in immortality, and possibly also connected to the name of Voldemort’s special group. (We see Fawkes “eat” death, or at least a Killing Curse. Maybe there’s some historical lore tying phoenixes to

Comments

[jana_ch]

Despite Dumbledore’s many government titles, I don’t get the impression that the Order of the Phoenix has any official legal status. Albus doesn’t like official government organizations, even if he’s managed to make sure the paperwork has gotten lost. The Order is his own private militia, founded by him and loyal to him. Since it’s made up mostly of Gryffindors, who tend to have delusions of knighthood, he invented a noble medieval name to remind his pawns-excuse me, his knights-that they’re the good guys. Moody and Aberforth doubtless thought the name was stupid but not worth arguing about, and Minerva may have seen it was something that would appeal to the younger lads

[sunnyskywalker]

Yeah, I think that's my main objection to the idea of the Order as legally authorized in some way: Albus is too much of a control freak. And pitting his desire for total control against Crouch's? No way would that work out.

(I'd also expect the Minister for Magic to the person in charge of creating orders of chivalry, but that's easier to work around. And anyway, I think Fudge said Snape would get an Order of Merlin, First Class "if I have anything to say about it," which implies someone else is involved at least in that case. I can imagine any number of ways that might work.)

But mostly, it's a personality issue. Albus could tell himself that well, the Ministry never got as firm a monopoly on power to create knightly orders as in the Muggle world (it might even be true), so it wasn't technically wrong for him to do so. Especially if he never got caught. And it really was for the best, honest, so better to as forgiveness than permission if it came down to it...

[anci_snark]

It is reminding me of holy orders, and taking orders, being ordained (by god). Connotations of being Good and Righteous and in service to god & Jesus... DD & Harry...

I am now recoiling from these thoughts.

[sunnyskywalker]

Ugh, good point. I was thinking of it as a secular order, but they are members of the Church of Dumbledore, aren't they? To oppose the Church of Voldemort, the Father Who Does Not Forgive. Ugh, ugh.

I also think of Crusaders, who seemed to have an awful lot of orders of chivalry. Religious wars: not good! I mean, we're talking guys who sometimes didn't get anywhere near their supposed enemy and sacked an allied city instead. Not exactly good role models.

[jana_ch]

Dumbledore is also the Father Who Does Not Forgive. He prefers to dangle the hope of forgiveness in your face, then yank it away, eyes twinkling merrily.

[sunnyskywalker]

Oh, yes. Voldemort is just the one who admits it.