“I was disappointed that it wasn’t Nevile that ended He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. After all, Voldemort marked him with scars far deeper than Harry’s.”
We got into this in my last class. We spent about a week on “scars.” It was interesting when the discussion turned to bullying and we discussed the main foils (Harry/Dudley and Harry/Draco) and how Rowling handled this. We noted that when students were left to handle their own problems, they could successfully handle themselves without helicopter teachers/parents protecting their little feelings.
I think Harry had to end it not only because of the prophesy that Voldemort fulfilled himself, but because of the Christ-like figure that Rowling might have been going for. I definitely read Harry as a Christ-like figure, with Ron and Hermione being Saints James and John.
Ah, but Voldemort marked Nevile as well. Emotional scars, scars far deeper than the cut on Harry's forehead, when he personally tortured both of Nevile's parents into insanity. Nevile also meets that end of July birth requirement.
And Rowling arguably foreshadowed it with Mme Pomphrey's comments on scars.
but because of the Christ-like figure that Rowling might have been going for.
Yeah. See also "The Hidden Key to Harry Potter" By John (no relation to Hermione) Granger.
I definitely read Harry as a Christ-like figure
Me too. It made the ending rather predictable, though.