Of heirs and prophecies

[donnaimmaculata]

I was wondering, does anyone else have a problem with the whole "heir of..." business? Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin lived over a thousand years ago. No way they've got only one heir each. If any of their descendants had more than one child, all their children would be "heirs of..." as well. And their children's children. And their children's children's children. Seeing as the wizarding population is rather small and as children of witches of wizards more often than not are witches and wizards, too, there must be hundreds of "heirs of..." running around, who, by blood, have the same claims to being the heir of Slytherin as Tom Riddle. In addition, Tom is half-blood, so there is no reason to assume that his lineage is that of long line of inbreeding Slytherin descendants.

I really hope that Rowling doesn't build her story around Harry's being the heir of Gryffindor.

I also consider the prophecy as a problematic plot device. Harry wasn't destined to be the one to kill Voldemort. He was programmed. Voldemort for his part was challenged to antagonise Harry. Had the prophecy not existed, Voldemort would have had no reason to single Harry out and to kill his parents. Harry only goes after Voldemort, because Voldemort tried to kill him first.

Of course, it is well possible that Harry would still have to fight Voldemort, even if the prophecy didn't exist. But it is its existence which makes the confrontation inevitable in the first place. Self-fulfilling, anyone?

Comments

[rosina-alcona.livejournal.com]

he gives great interview. and right now he's doing a Northern Irish accent and he's a bit sweaty and open-shirted. *sigh*

Yeah something like a birthmark. Like the parseltongue, but more specific perhaps.

[donnaimmaculata.livejournal.com]

a bit sweaty and open-shirted

*has pervy Mr. Darcy flashback*

*slashes Mr. Darcy with Mr. Darling*

You know, Jason Isaacs looks a bit like a bloke I know in London. I always though he didn't like me when I first met him, but when I saw him the next time, he was flirting with me rather shamelessly. He'll be in my area on Thursday... hm...

Um, what was the original topic, again? Ah yes, birthmarks.

If Rowling takes the "heir of" concept further, I would wish for her to elaborate the heir's origins and the reasons that make him the Chosen Heir. Then again, she can't elaborate everything, can she?

[rosina-alcona.livejournal.com]

He'll be in my area on Thursday... hm...

That's not the only placed he'd be, if I was you! YUM YUM!

i think she'll have to take it further at some point. She doesn't tend to mention things lightly (Mark Evans being the exception!) so I'd say we'd definitely get more on this one...

[donnaimmaculata.livejournal.com]

Let's hope the Half-Blood Prince will bring the answer. (Any answer would be good, considering that OotP left us with nothing but questions.)

Unfortunately, the Jason Isaacs lookalike is still-BF's mate. I might be lacking many essential morals, but there are some no-go areas left!