Is betrayal really betrayal when it's in order to save the world? Huh. We're not exactly sure… maybe there's a nicer way of saying it? Either way, betrayal is a key factor here; we spend a lot of time wondering who's betrayed whom, or who might have betrayed whom, or who might betray whom in the future. Basically, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows seems to teach us that the old saying is true – all is fair in love and war, and when those two things combust, anything might happen.
Questions About Betrayal
- Do you see Dumbledore's strategic use of Harry as a betrayal? Why or why not?
- Betrayal turns out to be one of the strongest forces here – and it turns those betrayed into betrayers themselves (think about Snape and Regulus Black, who turn against Voldemort when he betrays them). What commentary do you think this is trying to make about the nature of betrayal?
- Is betrayal depicted clearly as a good or evil thing here?