I have read the half blood prince a good 10 times but I still dont get something. It says "One cannot live while the other does" its talking about Harry and Voldemort, doesnt that suggest that both will definatly have to die? They need both of eachother to survive so they should need both to die?
2006-07-13 04:05:17 · 19 answers · asked by Jerald G 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
AHHH
"One cannot live while the other survives" doesnt answer the question. They are both alive now arent they???
2006-07-13 08:34:38 · update #1
It means that while Voldemort is still alive, Harry will never be able to live a "normal" life. Also, to the contrary, it means that while Harry is alive, Voldemort will not be able to live with the security that there is no one alive that can destroy him and his power. So, basically what j.k. rowling is saying is that in order for one of them to get what they want (Harry-normal life/Voldemort-ultimate power) one must kill the other. They both can't have what they want.
2006-07-13 04:26:09 · answer #1 · answered by JJ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a theory that I haven't seen anywhere else. Remember that Harry wasn't the only one born on July 31? That is when the prediction said the one who would destroy Voldemort would be born, but they assumed it had to be Harry, since Neville didn't show any real aptitude for magic. But now he's beginning to blossom, so maybe he was the one the prophecy really meant. That would mean that Harry might survive, but since Neville is the one who will really destroy Voldemort, he will be the one who dies.
2006-07-13 11:15:58 · answer #2 · answered by cross-stitch kelly 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means that as long as they both are alive, neither is truly "living". They are trying so hard to destroy the other that they can't "live" correctly. If Harry dies, Voldemort won't have to spend all of his time trying to defeat him. If Voldemort dies, Harry won't have to be looking over his shoulder anymore, and the entire wizarding community will be safe. Neither can really survive fully if the other is alive. Does that make sense?
2006-07-13 11:10:13 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the phrasing Rowling uses suggests a zero-sum, either/or prospect: Harry can live, or Voldemort can live, but not both at the same time. They're antithetical characters, setting the stage for one or the other to be destroyed.
2006-07-13 11:08:39 · answer #4 · answered by Dr. Atrocity 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The prophecy from OOTP:
The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches...born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies...and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not...and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives...the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies...
It means one will have to murder the other, not that they both have to die
Either (as in one or the other) must die at the hand of the other (one will be murdered by the survior) for neither can live while the other survives
Remember, Harry is not of age yet.
2006-07-15 01:45:50 · answer #5 · answered by kellyrv_bsa 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No... the reason is the wording. If it said that "One cannot live unless the other does", then it would mean that they both have to live or die. Because the wording is "while", it means that one or the other can live, but not both.
2006-07-13 11:12:14 · answer #6 · answered by AG 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in the 7th book,harry or voldermort must die. so we want voldermort to die,right?but 4 him 2 really be killed off,harry has to sacrifice himself.coz dun forget,one of the connection bet. harry n voldie is d scar. n d end of book 7 is d word 'scar'. so it begins n ends w. this 'scar'. this connection 2 voldermort. i strongly think tht d 13th horcrux is d scar n harry has 2 destroy himself to complete d killing/death of voldermort. like it or not,it's terribly sad 4 a 17 yr old boy 2 die,but tht's d only way 4 peace in the wizarding world 2 be restored..i mean,who else can kill voldie?also,d death of harry would pretty devastate hermione who's d closest female 2 harry,coz she'll prob. witness it,b close enough 2 know,ron will feel it too.less 2ndary r ginny,mcgonaggal,mrs weasley. thts if they're not dead. so i think n ms rowling has made it super clear,harry n voldermort will die. dan n emma who bid n won d family tree n black n ending of book 7 know d conclusion alrd. he let it slip out this yr. i heard it.
2006-07-13 11:17:24 · answer #7 · answered by Samantha Stephens 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no it means one cannot live while the other one is alive...so one needs to die so the other can truly live otherwise their both living half lives and not reaching their full potential. at least thats what I understand it to mean. ....But just enjoy the rest of the book...its good. :)
2006-07-13 11:10:09 · answer #8 · answered by fior_labhair 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, what it means is that one of them is going to have to kill the other. There's no place in the world for the two of them. So it pretty much means that there's gonna be a big battle and one of them will die, while the other one goes on to rule the world blah blah blah..
2006-07-13 11:11:21 · answer #9 · answered by floozie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no it means that there will never be peace in the world if both still live...one needs to die
2006-07-13 11:10:14 · answer #10 · answered by Jess♫ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋