The Silver Doe chapter begins with the Harry in his most broken and defenseless state. He has just survived his ordeal in Godric’s Hollow and he is definitely not better because of it. He is wandless, unable to sleep, and his doubts about Dumbledore are still fresh in his mind. It is in this state that he agrees to take the night shift. The night is dense, so dark that Harry wonders if he could see his own hand in front of his face. In many ways, the night is a resonance of what he feels within. But then something inexplicable happens; a shining doe appears. This doe seems to not only light the surroundings, but also comfort Harry. We see the resonance again in the affect she brings with her arrival. Harry feels he knows this doe, there is something familiar about her. He follows, though she is always a step ahead.
Then she stops and vanishes. She has lead him to a pool; and in the pool is a silver cross: the sword of Gryffindor. This scene contains two allusions, the first is religious. What he sees at the bottom of a pool is not recognized immediately as a sword but rather a cross. This is one of the many hints that Rowling gives to the religious connotations within the book(s). The second is to the story of the lady of the lake. Harry is lead to a pool where he can retrieve a sword. Is this not remarkably similar to the story of Arthur being given Excalibur by the lady of the lake? Rowling has many strong allusions to classical myths in the books, I believe this is another that she is hinting towards.
After some contemplation he knows that he must dive into the frozen pool to retrieve the sword. As he dives, something tightens around his neck. It is the chain of the horcrux. Harry begins to suffocate, but is soon pulled out of the pool. Who is his savior? Well, Ron of course. As Harry gets up he sees Ron, standing there with the sword in one hand and the horcrux in the other, he is filled with more happiness than the doe brought. After some conversation, they decide to kill the horcrux. As it opens, we see Ron’s fears and doubts: that his mother loved him least, that Hermione loves Harry, and that he is always second best. These are many of the same fears we have seen from Ron throughout the books, all the way back to the Mirror of Erised. Ron overcomes his fears as he stabs the Horcrux. He proves that he is back and that this time he is worthy to battle Voldemort. We see the change this has on Ron in the next few chapters as he takes the lead and is the one who drives the group.
They then make their way back to the tent. On seeing Ron, Hermione is angrier than we have ever seen her. Her anger is understandable, she felt abandoned by Ron. Harry separates the two in the same way that Hermione separated them when Ron left. This scene is another example of JKR’s understanding of human nature. The reader expected Hermione to jump into Ron’s arms, as you would see in so many other books. But JKR knows that there is no way for this to happen in real life. Hermione was hurt too deeply when he left, that was not going to simply vanish when he returned. JKR proves again that even in fantasy, human nature must be realistic.
This chapter has it all. There are religious and classical illusions, an internal battle which is externalized (and conquered) at last, as well as a not so happy homecoming. This chapter serves the most important role of pulling Harry out of the deep depression we found him in, to the much happier and hopeful person he needs to be to continue his task.
Mischief Managed,
Calie
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