Deathly Hallows: Brief Thoughts and Theories

Update: Pauli at Muggle Matters is also collecting theories, and there’s loads of interesting stuff in this post.

Theories are a-flyin’ about the Deathly Hallows! Felicity has provided us an excellent resource in scouring the Oxford English Dictionary for meanings of “hallows” and implications for the final book. She covers all the bases really well by articulating a view that includes multiple meanings for “hallows,” all of which will be drawn on to some extent. It’s an excellent starting place for your thoughts on “deathly hallows.”

I mentioned in the PubCast the thoughts of Harry Potter Prognostications, and more thoughts have been posted:

I think the “Deathly Hallows” is the name for the magic by which Harry became protected from Lord Voldemort when Lily died for him out of love. Lily’s performed a “deathly hallowing” of Harry, making him immune to Voldemort’s powers. In Book 7, Harry will learn this magic, and devise a way to use it so that he, Harry, is killed by Voldemort. The key: Harry’s deathly hallow will be on behalf of the entire world, rendering the entire world immune to Voldemort’s power.

The beauty of this is that, in Book 4, when Voldemort used Harry’s blood to reincarnate himself, he undid the protection provided to Harry by Lily’s original Deathly Hallow. Voldemort can now kill Harry, allowing Harry the chance to die on behalf of everyone, leaving Voldemort helpless. This is why Dumbledore smiled upon hearing that Voldemort used Harry’s blood: Dumbledore understood that Voldemort, in his wanton determination to destroy Harry (mostly out of vanity), had opened the door for Harry to defeat him with the one weapon he could not wield: Love.

Very, very interesting. I’m personally torn as to whether “deathly hallows” refers to horcruxes (more thoughts on that below) or this theory about the “ancient magic” of Lily’s sacrificial love, but if it is the latter, this is fascinating. I’m not sure this is exactly how it would play out though, and I’m not entirely certain Dumbledore would be pleased with the fact that Harry would soon be dying, leaving Voldemort alive but unable to hurt anyone. I’ll have to give some thought to other ways that “deathly hallows” could refer to the ancient magic.

“Deathly hallows” as horcruxes is also an interesting possibility. The post below notes a comment at the Leaky Cauldron that parallels the Hogwarts Founders’ relics with the “four hallows” of Arthurian legend (I’m not personally familiar with this part of Arthurian legend). A commenter here (Cory) notes a BBC article which claims that two other names were registered: “Hogwarts Hallows” and “Hallows of Hogwarts.” This would indicate something to do with the Founders and/or their relics. Again, see Felicity for thoughts on “hallows” as relics.

Definitely lots more to think about.