When I read those words at the close of Deathly Hallows my heart smiled. For me. I think it was because it filled me with a sense of “that peace which passes understanding”. It was a reminder to me of the glorious feeling of tranquility that can only come from faith in Christ.
I find myself unable to rationally explain my affinity for her closing the saga with “All was well”. She must have struck some archetypal chord within me… but like I said reading that ending phrase put me at once in mind of “the peace that passes understanding”.
p s. On a side note… I might be wrong in this observation but it seems to me that the folks who did not like the Epilogue are the same folks who seem to be happy with Jo’s “revelation” about Dumbledore… and vice versa (those of us who enjoy the Epilogue aren’t quite basking in the “tolerance is god” glow of the gay rainbow). I don’t know if there is anything meaningful in that comparison or if it speaks to a larger truth about differences among readers… but it’s interesting (to me at least).
“All was well” is also the acknowledging response of the listener to the assurance “All is well.” that ends the unsung words to the military bugle call known as “Taps”. A call that ends a soldier’s day and echoes one last time over his grave.
Since one of Dumbledore’s functions is to reflect a “Father God” image and Snape’s actions on Dumbledore’s behalf reflect a “Holy Spirit” image and undeniably Harry reflects a “Christ the Son” image. Then Albus Severus Potter is (with only a slight rearrangement of order) “In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen” followed by the priest’s sotto voce comment. “The Mass has ended go in Peace.”
Thanks. John for teasing out the signification of the children’s names. I think they’re going to be important for furthing the harmonization among the Four Houses which also fits a basic Indo-Europan myth.
A quick check of astrological and lapidary references noticed this: the Sun must be in Scorpio for the alchemical transformation into gold to occur. The colors and gem colors of Leo and Scorpio are reciprocal:Sun-sign Leo’s color is gold but its gem is ruby while Mars-sign Scorpio’s color is red but its gem the golden topaz or sapphire. Leo is a fire-sign. Scorpio a water sign.
My reaction to the epilogue has morphed over the course of 5 separate readings of DH due to the incredible insights posted here at HogPro. Thank you everyone for helping me find my “inner literary critic,”a work in progress for sure.
At first I was shell-shocked; I just couldn’t believe that I’d come to the end of the series. I probably reread the epilogue twice before laying down the book and walking out of the room. “All was well” seemed too quick; I was left with a sour taste in my mouth which I now can attribute to my selfish desire to hold on to the reading experience. I couldn’t get my head around anything more than an obvious. (and from an emotional viewpoint)superficial meaning to those final three words. I also wanted to interpret “was” to mean “maybe not in the future,” somehow keeping the door open for Harry Potter/Generation 2 or something like that.
I don’t feel this way anymore. “All was well” tells me of the presence of peace in Harry’s life. He has found answers to the tough questions (Dumbledore/Snape/Voldemort) resolved the conflict in his soul and spirit (Griffindor/Slytherin/sacrifices of family and friends) and has accepted who he is and what his life’s purpose entails. The DH scene in the Great Hall after the final battle with LV shouts. “IT IS FINISHED!” to me. Good has overcome evil in Harry’s story just as Christ has overcome sin in reality.
The final three words of the epilogue now breathe softly across my sensibilities and leave me contented. Seeing Harry. Ginny. Ron and Hermione with their children is gratifying. I’m glad to find them apparently happy and seemingly in good health. Draco’s presence reminds me to live life without predjudice and to choose my allegiances wisely. I don’t have the sour taste in my mouth any longer.
I’ve not read Eliot but in skimming over some of the Four Quartets from the link it is something I will definitely do. I had read about Julian of Norwich a bit because of the inclusion of her in a novel. “The Illuminator” set in Norwich. England.
Like you. I was very satisfied with the Epilogue. When I finished that last phrase. I remember smiling through my tears and just feeling content with the story. I have come to realize amid all the complaining that some are doing about not enough detail in the Epilogue that I don’t need more detail. Everything that needed to be said there was said. I’m very glad that Rowling didn’t end with her very long version that she wrote first.
And I think that HallowsFan is right about the people who aren’t happy with the Epilogue. They were looking for their version of the story and that isn’t what Rowling gave them; she gave us all her own version. And that’s just as it should be.
Excellent and thought-provoking. Professor as always. I have never considered the Eliot connection. My thought went immediately to Julian of Norwich (love the Department of Mysteries suggestion btw) and her famous imagery of God holding the whole creation in the palm of His hand… ALL SHALL BE (WAS) (IS) WELL…redemption is a DONE DEAL even though Harry and we have to work it out. To me it completed the series and offered hope for the future of the wizarding world for exactly the same indicatiors as for my world…the servant when he has done all that he has to do rests in the care of the Master. He can rest all his future and the future of his offspring to that never-failing care and love which holds the universe in being and redemption! Harry’s beatitude in this is a reflection archetypically of the servant who hears “Well done thou good and faithful servant; enter into rest prepared for thee from the foundation of the world.”
None of which it to remove the necessary workings out of the process in the individual and community and society and culture and world and universe. But when one (transiently now and eternally eventually hopefully) enters TELOS one is at ARCHE.
I think this whole Kings Cross scene parallels without mimicking the end of THE LAST BATTLE - after the door is passed and the questions basically answered - when the vision of Narnia spread out in all time and space literally connected - becomes the impetus for the Friends of Narnia to run into the Reality which awaits “higher up and further in”. For this reason. I find your explanation of the satisfactory nature of the closing most personally satisfying as well. Boarding a train to be sorted and grow up into adulthood is not so different -is it?- from Dante’s vision of the heavenly rose (if linear rather than curved). Harry at King’s Cross is given a preview of the possibilities and interconnections in the Rest that is and is to come and never ends. All creation in harmony with that Rest! Truly all (was,is shall be) well! All whole! Eternal wholeness!
The Julian of Norwich reference is intriguing. In his collected letters. C. S. Lewis (who was no big fan of T. S. Elliot for most of his life by the way) quotes the line “all shall be well” more than once when struggling with the problems of reconciling a belief in a loving God and the doctrines of hell and damnation; and particularly in his concern for the eternal destiny of those who had never had the opportunity to hear of Christ and His salvation.
I confess that the first literary allusion that I was reminded of when reading the Epilogue was the end of the Lord of the Rings when Sam returns home from the Grey Havens and simply says: “Well. I’m back.” The only way to end a massive epic is with a breath of homely contentment.
I was also one of the few who really liked it (although we seem to congregate around your boards apparently!). As an aspiring writer. I was prepared to give JKR a lot of leeway anyway (the whole agonising over whether Harry would survive or not… if it serves the story. I’m okay with it) but I really thought it was nice. After all the drama and excitement of the work the darkness it was like coming home again after a long journey. If she had tried to give us every single detail it would’ve been madness and never end! If she had tried to give some details but not others well folks would’ve whined such: “She told us about XX– so why couldn’t she tell us YY?” Giving sparse details but ones that latch onto the important things- the alchemical journey that however difficult one’s struggle with evil is there is something on the other side of it (a happy life) etc. well some folks complain but I think it was just right.
Also. I am totally indebted both to JKR and John the first for putting in these literary allusions and the second for pointing them out because I have so many interests now in reading works. Eliot’s Four Quartets are now on my reading list.
Perelandra - thanks for this: “the Sun must be in Scorpio for the alchemical transformation into gold to occur. The colors and gem colors of Leo and Scorpio are reciprocal:Sun-sign Leo’s color is gold but its gem is ruby while Mars-sign Scorpio’s color is red but its gem the golden topaz or sapphire” I was wondering about the name “Scorpio” & how it fit in beyond being a water (Slyterin) sign.
I bought two books today at Barnes and Noble as a result of this topic–”The Waste Land and Other Poems” and “Four Quartets”. Time to expand my reading with a bit of poetry that I’ve avoided for a very long time. (The trouble I’m having with The Waste Land is all the languages that I don’t speak–namely German. The French I can sort of figure out but having to flip to the footnotes every half page is disruptive to the flow. It’s definitely going to be something I have to read more than once. I guess I should be glad there are footnotes and endnotes with Eliot’s notes.)
Arabella Figg you are so right that we shouldn’t be dividing ourselves into opposite camps. The problem that I have is that whenever I’ve said to people on other forums that I really liked DH and especially the Epilogue they have had only criticism and dissatisfaction with the book and the ending especially the obvious Christian aspects. So like it or not we do seem to be divided. It’s unfortunate when we all managed to cross so many barriers of age gender nationalities for the first five even the first six books. So I find that I now have quit trying to discuss the books with people I once counted as close on-line friends. But I just can’t keep arguing with them and I refuse to let them tarnish something that I really like and appreciate.
Thank you. John (and everyone!) for your thoughtful insights and speculations. I loved the Epilogue too. It is as it should be in my opinion. I wouldn’t have been able to tell you why I loved it so much except that it just seemed perfect and got me all warm and fuzzy too. But after reading this analysis. I think I understand a little more about why it appealed to me so much and why I was so satisfied with it.
Every time I revisit this site (which is often since it is my browser’s home page). I am uplifted and encouraged to dig deeper into the meaning of HP and to explore other works of literature that I have yet to discover. I am finally becoming the reader I have long wished to be!
A special thanks to Helen for her short fanfic post above. That was brilliant! I am teary-eyed and my mind is now filled with images and ideas of what events may be unfolding in the wizarding world. I don’t know if we’ll ever get any more stories from JKR (and maybe that’s all for the best) but it sure is fun to imagine. Your bit has contributed to my ongoing fantasy plots. Thanks.
Perelandra:I do have an abridged version of Julian’s visions and you’re right… the image of God holding everything that exists and it’s no larger than a nut in His hand is memorable. And it might be that “all was well” does trace back directly to Julian and not only via Eliot. Didn’t JKR say at one time that she might write a book about medieval saints? Surely reading about medieval saints would be a necessary precursor?
tweak:I’m puzzled by Hugo but I’m much more puzzled by Ariana and Kendra Dumbledore. They seem to have such contemporary given names not Victorian or wizardly in the least. Maybe they were shout-outs to friends or acquaintances of JK?
As to meanings traces the origin of the name to the Dutch language where it means “heart and mind”. That is certainly what you would get from the marriage of Ron and Hermione–Heart and Mind conjoined.
As to literature my first thought was of creator of the first science fiction magazine after whom the annual award for Science Fiction Writing–The Hugo–is named. However if Ms Rowling ever gets around to naming sources of inspiration for little Hugo I expect it to be an author whom English speakers admire for “Les Miserables” and “”Notre-Dame de Paris” (The Hunchback of Notre-Dame) but who is most famous to students of French Literature as a poet and dramatist.
As a member of the House of Weasley of course he would also have to have a link to the Legends and Literature of England (Arthur. Parsifal [Percival] or Guinevere [Ginevra]) the Monarchy of England (William. Charles. George and [died on his way to be invested as Prince of Wales. Friedrich (Fred) older brother of George] or the Saints of England (Molly (Mary). Charles (a double appearance! ).
Hugo translates to Hugh in English a name fairly common there but I know of know Kings or Major Literary Characters of that name however in the Hall of English Saints there are two possibilities: and of the two I prefer the first as his actions before and after his elevation to Bishop seem to speak of the spirit of Ms. Rowling’s writing. However the events of the second also reflect the kinds of prejudice intolerance and mass hysteria that Harry and Friends were fighting their way through in the seven volumes.
Pat (Eeyore) thanks for your affirmation on my distress over finger-pointing and derision Are we HP fans going to sort ourselves into competitive Houses to fight for the House Cup of Righteousness? It seems to me we all bring something to the table (as adroitly demonstrated by Rowling) and our various viewpoints and understandings add to the whole as long as we don’t point our wands at each other yelling “Obliviate!”
Helen. I loved your fanfic piece. What a wonderful thought that Albus and Scorpio could be come friends further cementing the oneness of WizWorld. Actually their friendship could have more lasting impact than the defeat of Old Moldy.
Although not a parent. I know from my own experience that a family can produce very different child personalities. Still despite Albus’ unease about being sorted into Slytherin and his brother’s teasing his anxious nature puzzled me. You’d think the Potter kids would be pretty self-confident. James certainly was. Perhaps James was the problem.
We have two children who are as different as night and day. I agree with you. Arabella that Albus appeared insecure; a behavior I did not find unusual in light of James’ teasing. I have no doubt that Albus has been led a merry chase through his first 11 years and Harry and Ginny are just glad he has so far survived the rigors of growing up *Potter-Weasley!* (Think about summers with Grandma and Grandpa Weasley at the Burrow… the antics Uncle George would encourage!)
I have cousins who mirrored similar behaviors in their childhood: the older was confident of his place as firstborn and quite full of himself. The other cousin was sensitive like Albus appears to be without a mean bone in his body. I remember my mom talking about the day the younger cousin beat the stuffing out of his older brother in self-defense and how the grown-ups were glad to see some backbone in the boy! Eventually the elder worked through his issues and became a decent human being…but he could never hold a candle to his younger kind-hearted sibling.
James may have the spotlight at the moment…firstborn of Harry Potter energetic and fun to be around. James will NEED the limelight as did his grandfather. But I think Albus will be the *quiet giant* in the long run: a recognized leader; wise sensitive an honor to his namesakes. I can see ASP as a future Headmaster of Hogwarts. If James takes after his father on the broom. I would imagine him to seek his fame in the International Quiddich arena.
Louis Charbonneau-Lassay (1871-1946) was a French Catholic archeologist/historian with a profound knowledge of medieval Christian art and symbolism who wrote Le Bestiaire Du Christ - a book of of a thousand pages and over a thousand of the author’s woodcuts. It was published in Brussels in 1940 just after the outbreak of WWII. I have an abridged English translation copyright Parabola Books. 1991. It is a book to which I think JKR would have been drawn by francophilia and education and interest.
“Searching for symbolic images that would convey serious Christian lessons the early glossarists pointed out that although the weasel is the smallest of the carnivores yet it can win combats with much bigger animals than itself - so they said the weasel is the perfect symbol of a Christian who no matter how weak in himself can still triumph over Satan the most terrifying monster of hell.” p.147 (Can you say. Chamber of Secrets?)
“The weasel conceives through the ear and gives birth through the mouth” is a dictum from the ancient world attested by Plutarch. Aristotle and Ovid.“Likewise the disciple and also the initiate listening to the word of the master receives through the ear the seed of wisdom and of inner light which impregnates his spirit; then having thus learned much through attentive listening the candidate for initiation becomes in his turn a teacher and through the wise and eloquent speech of his mouth gives birth to disciples who are his spiritual children.” p.148(Here I would add the Bible citations from ACTS chapter 8 and 15. Romans chapter 10: 5 - 17 and 1 John 5:13 - all of which refer to the hearing believing and confessing of faith in Jesus Christ which gives new birth.) Can you say EPILOGUE?
The familial care of the weasel made it a symbol of carefulness vigilance and active paternal affection for some symbolists. This and the power of revivication shared with the lion and the pelican made it easy for the weasel to become one of the fauna symbolic of JESUS CHRIST p.149. (Can you say Mollie and Arthur?)
“Pliny also tells us in two other passages of his great work that the weasel is the most implacable vanquisher of that terrifying reptile the basilisk or cockatrice: ‘This monster as has often been proved for kings wishing to see its corpse cannot withstand weasels which lure it into a cave and kill it by the odor they exhale’. In another passage he says that the weasel itself will pursue the cockatrice into its lair where everything nearby is burned by the reptile’s breath. Then with nothing but its odor the weasel kills it and dies at the same time. All the ancient Christian symbolists took note of this… . In the works of medieval writers and artists the weasel becomes the image of the Savior.” pp.149-150 (Dan you say Ron and Deathly Hallows?)
Interestingly. “A slightly larger (huge - o ?) variety of the weasel is the ermine… . Medieval heraldry took the ermine as the symbolic image of a man determined to protect the purity of his conscience - an image that is above all that of the perfect knight who prefers to undergo any misfortune rather than tarnish his name and his escutcheon by the slightest act contrary to loyalty fidelity or knightly honor. …Thus placed as the perfect sign of the soul’s purity the ermine shares the symbol of the crucifixion with the swan the dove. THE LILY and the snow embodying the innocence of CHRIST. Also the ermine was one of the rare winter symbols of the Resurrection because while brown in summer it then seemed to disappear only to reappear in all its whiteness with the return of the snowy season.” p151. (Can you say HUGO - the larger weasley?)
The more I look at info on Julian of Norwich the more I see a link to the locked room in the Department of Mysteries. The main clue is that the room is always locked - as was the anchorhold where Julian lived. The study of the power of love goes on behind the locked door. How does anything get in or out and why is door locked? Yet we have her profound work “Showing of Love” which came from behind the locked door. There is so much available on the internet with Google and check on Amazon books if you think her work is forgotten and obscure. Not so!! It matters not whether Lady Joanne tapped this stream of thought at its source or through Eliot or Holland or Lewis or others or all of the above. It is a most beautiful conclusion to her work with closure resolution and understanding. Great good can be accomplished by flawed (i e sinful) human beings inspired by love. Some times the first part of Julian’s quote is omitted but it really should not be. “Sin is needful but all shall be well and all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well.” Dumbledore. Snape and Harry all have their flaws - but look at the good driven by love and choices made. Dobby (muggle alias Donn) and deep appreciation to John for the moniker Dobby. I treasure that!
So glad to see these possible literary and theological connections being explored. Julian of Norwich was practically the first thought that popped into my mind after reading the “All was well” line (well the first coherent thought beyond the tearful “oh-my-goodness-I-can’t-believe-I’ve-just- finished- Harry-Potter” sorts of thoughts).
I don’t think the Eliot/Norwich choice has to be either/or. They’re both part of English history literary and theological. I almost wonder if she didn’t choose the line for its aesthetic rightness before she even realized its connotations. I love that some expressions contain within them such a richness of allusion showing that Harry Potter is part of a long ongoing conversation.
And I love the epilogue. I kept going back to read it and each time I became more impressed by its artistry. We know JKR can wield words lots of words well. All the more reason to be impressed. I think by the modest almost sparse (or do I mean spare) feel to the epilogue. It seemed so carefully planned and so well executed. I kept getting the sense of a beautifully set-up photo or a finely edited three-minute home movie (the kind my dad used to take on our old film camera). The last chapter ended well but we needed desperately need that epilogue to put things in perspective and to come full circle on some themes and emotions. So thanks for unpacking the alchemical underpinnings of that masterful epilogue. John!
Your reading of the epilogue and the hopes for Rose/AlbusSeverus/Scorpius is spot on. Though I think ASP might choose Gryffindor as a house he might also choose a Slytherin (Scorpius) as a best friend which might finally mean an end to the Gryffindor/Slytherin prejudices and be an echo back to the founders (didn’t the Sorting Hat say during one of the songs that Godric and Salazar - as well as Helga and Rowena - were best friends at first?) [It would be ironic if Albus chose Slytherin and Scropius chose Gryffindor though.] And with a successful Gryffindor/Slytherin love affair in Rose/Scorpius as well what a resolution of contraries! And I can image the amusement of the DumbledorePortrait and the SnapePortrait when the new trio appears in the headmasters office - can you see the look on their faces at the possible friendship of the Harry and Draco lookalikes of Albus and Scorpius? Or the Rose/Scorpius romance? And the Snape portrait will have some sneering (but inner-ly amused) comment about the Albus Severus name? Okay. I’m stopping now before this deviates into fanfic territory!
Thomas Howard may not show any references to alchemical imagery but an earlier critic of Four Quartets. Helen Gardner refers to “a fifth element,” “the quintessence,” that opens up the possibilities: On p. 45 of The Art of T. S. Eliot she says: “We could then say that the whole poem is about the four elements whose mysterious union makes life pointing out that in each of the separate poems all four are present; and perhaps adding that some have thought that there is a fifth element unnamed but latent in all things: the quintessence the true principle of life and this unnamed principle is the subject of the whole poem.” I have missed this on previous readings but this time thanks to John Granger’s presentation of alchemical imagery in Harry Potter and English literature. I took note and find it a helpful way to look at the Four Quartets. RoseLee
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