Deathly Hallows: The Three Temptations of Christ?

• Spoiler Alert! 

Alastair, who regularly blogs here, has left a fascinating comment under the Initial Reactions post, and it’s worth some discussion. I’ve quoted it here in full:

“I was wondering how closely the Deathly Hallows are supposed to be associated with the three temptations of Christ. That some connection exists seems clear enough to me. They would seem to promise a way for Harry to achieve his mission without the ‘cross’. However, could it be closer than that.

Following the account in Matthew 4, the Resurrection Stone corresponds with the first temptation (stones into bread). The temptation is that of restoring life in the wrong and unnatural manner (’man shall not live by bread alone…’). Being driven purely by a hunger for holding onto life (both your own and those close to you) is wrong. Admittedly, this one is a bit of stretch. Perhaps someone has a better idea on this one.

The second temptation (Christ casting himself down from the temple, confident in his Father’s protection) is far more clearly related to the Invisibility Cloak. The Invisibility Cloak is the ‘father’s protection’. Just as Christ is tempted to presume on the protection of his father and avoid the suffering of the cross, so Harry could rely on the Cloak of his father’s and avoid his fate, even when his ‘hour’ has come (quite literally).

Jesus walked, as it were, invisible though many crowds seeking to kill him (Luke 4:30; John 7:30; 8:59; 10:39) and could have done so again. However, both Christ and Harry have to step out from under the protection of their fathers’ cloak and face evil alone.

The resurrection stone might also relate in some way to this temptation. The spirits of Harry’s friends and relations help him as he approaches death, playing a role similar to that of the angel in the Garden of Gethsemane prior to Christ’s death (Luke 22:43). Jesus could have had spirits to minister to him throughout his sufferings and could have appealed to a legion of angels to fight his battle with him (Matthew 26:53). However, he must fight the final battle alone. Harry is in a similar position, being ministered to by the spirits of friends and family as he approaches death, something that he has to be prepared to lose as he faces his enemy alone.

The Elder Wand corresponds to the final temptation (rule over the kingdoms of the world on condition of worshipping Satan). The Elder Wand gives the greatest power in the world to its owner, being the means by which the owner can rule over all others. Jesus is tempted to grasp at rule in the wrong way. However, he must undergo the self-sacrifice of the cross. Only then will Satan be disarmed and the rule be given to him as its rightful possessor. Much the same thing happens with Harry. He must resist chasing the wand before it is given to him as its rightful possessor following his self-sacrifice.

Harry, like Christ, is given three temptations to pursue a ‘crossless’ victory. However, as he takes the way of the ‘cross’ he becomes the rightful owner of all. The last enemy of Death is defeated, but not by means of the tools that Death himself offers.

Thoughts?