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Rereading the series and finally on the last novel. I forgot why it's been so long since I reread the books but I've started to remember how much an emotional toll the 7th book has on me. I know a lot of sad deaths happen in this series (Dumbledore really got me) but I just can't help but feel angry that Hedwig died and how brutal it was. I truly feel the story would have been just as powerful without sacrificing Harry's poor owl. LIKE WHY MAN?!?? WHY?!! I loved her and Harry's relationship and her little temper tantrums. I literally need emotional support at the moment.
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Hedwig's death is, in my opinion, intended to be brutal and to illicit that precise response. War is often random and without mercy. I think it's easy (thanks to media/entertainment) to expect death to be symbolic and to have some greater meaning, and sometimes it just doesn't. In war, sometimes soldiers die sleeping in a fox hole. Sometimes they're hit by a stray bullet.
I think if we are to assign any meaning to Hedwig's death, it's that war and violence are often without bias. They can strike at any moment. I think we all collectively hate that Hedwig was killed, and in the way she was killed, but I think that's part of the point JKR was trying to make. The only solace to be taken is that she was a tremendous friend and ally to Harry, and they loved each other deeply. There's comfort in that, albeit only a little.
That's beautiful and honestly the only thing I really took from it. These books are a work and art, and art is a reflection of life; good and bad. Right after that chapter I went and wrote this post, picked up my dog...and just kissed her. I know it seems silly to get all flustered but I've sank so many hours into these books that I've made a connection to the characters. Thanks for your comment and reflection!
Weirdly it's the one that impacted me the most with dumbledore's, i agree with you the others didn't feel as brutal to me for some reasons
100 percent.
Hedwig's death made me delay reading the novel any further. I never thought a book would impact me so deeply back then (mind you, I was 16 at the time and I've always been fanatical in loving animals).
Yo I legit took my dog and I'm almost done w a 2 hour hike. Lol had to decompress but I just feel deeply!
Why? Bc it shows his complete loss of any innocent childhood he had left.
Lol I'm imagining that Fairly Oddparents dad meme "AND this is where I'd put my childhood...IF I HAD ONE!"
Me watching HP and the DH pt1:*Crys*
i was taken aback more by hedwig's death than dobby's.