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dezaI've been saying all along that Harry Potter is a huge Arthurian retelling. This isn't surprising, as about 1/2 the literature put out in the last century or so has had Arthurian roots.
It just occurred to me that contrary to popular opinion, Hermione isn't Guinevere. Guinevere is the woman Arthur won and then couldn't keep, not a stalwart, loyal companion. Guinevere is Cho Chang.
So if Hermione isn't the most obvious of the Arthurian women, who is she?
There's a beautifully sad sub-plot of Arthurian legend that most people don't think about today--the story of the Lady of Shalott, aka Elaine of Astolat (does anyone know if Hermione is supposed to be from Guildford, Surrey?). The story is that after being wounded in a joust, Lancelot was nursed back to health by Elaine, who had fallen head-over-heels for him. Some versions of the story say they married, others that they were lovers during Lancelot's recuperation. In the end, Lancelot left Elaine to return to Camelot, Arthur and Guinevere, his true love. Elaine, heartbroken, died by her own hand, and her body floated down the Shalott river that ran past Camelot. On seeing her body, Lancelot felt remorse for his treatment of her, but continued his affair with Guinevere.
Waterhouse, The Lady of Shalott, 1888.
If Hermione is Elaine, I think we'll see the end of the Shalott story. Ron will leave her for Cho. Hermione will perform an incredibly reckless act of self-sacrifice, and her body will end up either in water or on a boat. Ron will regret his actions, but by then it will be too late.
Who is this? And what is here?
And in the lighted palace near
Died the sound of royal cheer;
And they crossed themselves for fear,
All the Knights at Camelot;
But Lancelot mused a little space
He said, "She has a lovely face;
God in his mercy lend her grace,
The Lady of Shalott."
It's all pure speculation, of course, and I could be WAY off-base. However, it would be viewed as a plot twist and it would result in the heartbreaking death of a major character.
It just occurred to me that contrary to popular opinion, Hermione isn't Guinevere. Guinevere is the woman Arthur won and then couldn't keep, not a stalwart, loyal companion. Guinevere is Cho Chang.
So if Hermione isn't the most obvious of the Arthurian women, who is she?
There's a beautifully sad sub-plot of Arthurian legend that most people don't think about today--the story of the Lady of Shalott, aka Elaine of Astolat (does anyone know if Hermione is supposed to be from Guildford, Surrey?). The story is that after being wounded in a joust, Lancelot was nursed back to health by Elaine, who had fallen head-over-heels for him. Some versions of the story say they married, others that they were lovers during Lancelot's recuperation. In the end, Lancelot left Elaine to return to Camelot, Arthur and Guinevere, his true love. Elaine, heartbroken, died by her own hand, and her body floated down the Shalott river that ran past Camelot. On seeing her body, Lancelot felt remorse for his treatment of her, but continued his affair with Guinevere.
Waterhouse, The Lady of Shalott, 1888.
If Hermione is Elaine, I think we'll see the end of the Shalott story. Ron will leave her for Cho. Hermione will perform an incredibly reckless act of self-sacrifice, and her body will end up either in water or on a boat. Ron will regret his actions, but by then it will be too late.
And in the lighted palace near
Died the sound of royal cheer;
And they crossed themselves for fear,
All the Knights at Camelot;
But Lancelot mused a little space
He said, "She has a lovely face;
God in his mercy lend her grace,
The Lady of Shalott."
It's all pure speculation, of course, and I could be WAY off-base. However, it would be viewed as a plot twist and it would result in the heartbreaking death of a major character.
