I think throughout the series, J.K. Rowling used a lot of symbolism through numbers. For example, the Deathly Hallows are three objects that are extremely important in Wizard lore--one might even call them holy. Could this be an allusion to another holy trio? And what about the horcruxes? Voldemort planned on splitting his soul into seven, which is known as a lucky or magical number. When he killed the Potters, he unknowingly created an extra horcrux (Harry). So, in the end, his soul was split into eight pieces. However, only seven ever existed at any one time. There's also seven years of Hogwarts, seven books, and seven is the age when a child should show magical talent (says Rita Skeeter). In Jewish culture, seven symbolizes human existence--the days of work and the day of rest combined into one week. Eight symbolizes going beyond what's human, beyond a physical existence--like the eighth day of the week (which doesn't physically exist).
I think J.K. Rowling is trying to say that when Voldemort split his soul another time, he was no longer human, no longer truly existing as a person. He wasn't technically possible, yet still real and living. If you think about it mathematically, splitting his soul in half left him with half a soul, then a fourth, and so on, leaving him with 1/128th of a soul. That's not even one percent of a soul--dangerously close to being soulless, like being kissed by a dementor.
Many could argue this is a coincidence, but J.K. Rowling planned a series with seven books. Not five, not three, but seven. I think this was a significant and conscious decision. Especially with the success of the books, you'd think Rowling might have chosen to write more about Harry and his friends. But through everything, she stuck to a trusty set of seven.
What other numbers are symbolic in HP7? Where else is the number seven mentioned? Do seven and eight have other meanings in culture? Tell me what you think!
Amanda Grad
The number seven plays a large role in Christianity, which many readers believe has lots of links to the Harry Potter series. I really like your topic for the blog post, it's not a very common one and I was glad to see something new and different.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really interesting post. It's a geat observation that is really making me think of the symbols in this book
ReplyDeleteI never realized JKR's intentional "number choice." I like how you connected your ideas with information from the "real world," such as saying that in the Jewish faith, "seven symbolizes human existence.
ReplyDeleteI have also noticed this brought up a lot in Harry Potter. More things that include the number "7". Many of the families had 7 children like the Weasleys, Thaddeus Thurkell, and Walter Parkin. There is 7 floors in Hogwarts and the kids go there for 7 years. There are 7 players on a Quidditch team. Harry payed 7 Galleons for his wand. There were 7 victims of the basilisk in book 2. Haha besides those there is still so many more and it is really fascinating what she did with this by designing the whole book behind this.
ReplyDeleteIt's is really cool how you you realized this! I had never even thought about it in that sense. Its cool how you take a little thing in the book and connect it to a HUGE part of the series! I think this makes a really interesting blog post!
ReplyDelete-Anouk Grandits 804
This is such an intricate and unique idea. I never would have thought to write about the significance of number. It seems like such a small thing, and one that someone would use without meaning or purpose. It's really cool that you went beyond and looked at the details some might have overlooked.
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