*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

'The Mirror of Erised' Chapter by Lee Wilson


As many of us already know, JK came up with the name Erised as it is desire spelt backwards. But the question to ask is if there was any proper reason why the mirror of Erised should have been brought into the books? You may be thinking what a stupid question to ask, and you might answer, that it was needed for Harry to get the Philosopher's stone. Well was there really any need to name the chapter Mirror of Erised? J.K could have named it family reunited or something like that, why choose the chapter to be named after the mirror?


I think maybe in the books, the mirror may have had a part in them that was cut out. I think that the mirror wasn't all that important in that chapter and should maybe have been named something more explanatory. The mirror is described to show this:


"It shows us nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts" (HP and PS, page 157, UK)


These words where from the wise man himself, Dumbledore. The mirror shows some importance in the book, but I don’t think it played a big enough part to build up to the importance that JK had written it to be. It is hard to explain, but I think there are some suspicions about this Mirror of Erised. In the chapter J.K lets us have a taster of three characters and what they see in this Mirror of Erised. The book says that Ron sees him being as good as all of his brothers, because he finds it hard to keep up and prove to his parents and himself that he can be as successful as his other brothers. Harry is said to see his parents and other family relatives, and then you have Dumbledore who sees himself holding socks.


There may be a subliminal message behind these meanings, whether it helps us understand the characters better or whether it tells us what may happen in future books. Ron says he sees himself as Quidditch Captain and Head Boy. In the fifth book Ron is made a prefect and keeper. Since he has managed to achieve these roles he is only one step away from becoming what he saw himself being in the mirror.

Using Ron’s mirror message, it can show parts in future books so maybe it will be the same for Harry. Maybe Harry will end up coming face to face with his parents and other family in death and maybe Dumbledore will get his socks!


There are so many mysteries and so many theories behind this amazing mirror. Due to the fact that there are so many theories about this mirror it is hard to understand what is true and what is false, or whether any of them are true to begin with. I guess we will have to wait for the other books before we may truly know the truth of this mirror or perhaps this mystery may continue on forever, if it doesn't appear again in book 6 and 7.

I'm sure it will be back. It's to interesting to just drop after the first book. And I don't think Dumbledore told the truth.

yeh i agree, maybe Dumbledore desires Utopia or something, its the sort of thing he would want.

I also think that Dumbledore didn't tell the truth. It's just not like Dumbledore to have his deepest darkest desire be socks. But I think that the mirror will eventually reappear and the truth will be told.

was it evewr mentioned what exactly happened to the mirror? *is to lazy to check by hismelf*

I'm not sure if it says exactly, other than that Dumbledore moved it after the first place Harry found it to protect the Stone. I don't have my PS here, just looking around the Lex.

As for Dumbledore seeing himself with socks... I kind of see what those three people saw as symbolic of something bigger. Harry wants someone and somewhere to belong. He wants roots and he wants to be part of a family. Ron wants to live up to his brothers, as well as make his own name and succeed in his own right. And... this just might be my spin, but to me the warm socks speak of comfort and home. I kind of read that as Dumbledore is ready for real, lasting peace when the biggest problem he has to deal with is how warm his socks are. *shrug*

^ Well actually, that's a good idea. I never thought of that.

w00t, Lee!

I like it... very much. The mirror seems like these tools - e.g. the Pensieve, the Veil - with unfathomable powers and even deeper secrets. Nicely done, Mr. Lee!

well done mz Erin, nicely thought up!

Thanks Mikaela! i actually have submitted a 'The Veil' editorial so i am awaiting thats validation, if it will get validated, but keep in touch!

thanks all for reading

Oh yeah, that`s so hard to see what`s truth and what`s a lie!
Man, you`re really wise!!!
And it`s better than mine, because mine is too.....let`s say...academical! I`m not joking.

lmao, why thank you young jedi

The mirror was never mentioned again after Harry found the stone. It is probably in the same room and no one has gone looking for it since.

Wonder if the mirror and the veil are somehow connected?

There's some really good ideas in here! I would never of thought of all Cassirin's ideas, but they make sense. Wise!

In a way it could contain truth though, I mean Ron is a keeper now, maybe Dumbledore will get socks soon (they can't be that hard to get can they?) and Harry has kinda already met his parents. In the fourth book, when he is battling at the end with Voldemort, certain spells are reversed and the ghost of Harry's parents come out and help save them. But who knows.

right. the mirror of erised is a very interesting thing.
i wish there's one in real life.
of course dumbledore lied!
i mean, c'mon!
ur hogwarts headmaster, for heaven's sake!!
there's a lot things more important than socks!
(i believe he said somethin about socks. im not really sure.)

hey! nice essay!
loved it!

thanks for reading all!

lolz my cousin told me that the incsription on it backwards says" i show not your face bur your hearts desire" the actul words are like seperated so like half of a word will be in 2 seperate words. does that make anty sense? check the sorceres stone and see for yourself !!

thank you

dont worry i will

Your article casts the spotlight on the mirror of Erised. It's a mystery as to whether it has been relocated or not, as JKR hasn't given us much information. It just gave me this thought...where could Fluffy (I hope the name is right) be at the moment? JKR has hardly mentioned the corridor where the Philosopher's stone was safegaurded in the books that followed book one. Please correct me if I'm wrong, because I don't own any Potter books, and speaking of only what I have in memory.

It is quite possible that the Mirror might come use during the war, but the chances are only 50-50. I feel the mirror of erised was just a tool, like the Pensieve.

The Pensieve was introduced to us so that JKR could show us the trials more dramatically. Harry wouldn't have known about the trials, if not for the pensieve, and I'm sure he would not ask Dumbledore as he never knew abut them.

Likewise, the Mirror of Erised was described to us, to give us a hint, so that when we read the climax, we don't get confused. hat's my opinion.

There is a thread on that in the forums somewhere, many say he still remains in Hogwarts since its soo big he would be easy to hide, but you are totally correct in using an example such as fluffy and relating it to the dissappearance on the mirror.

Well thank you for reading

mabye the mirror turns into a transporter during the wars to be the gateway to a place where dementors live

Ther's no bad thing about waiting.
But it only really show the desires of the heart. It maybe a coincidence that Ron got the said position but maybe he's really for it.
Waiting will bring us good but not waiting is stubborness.

I think that it will help Harry see what voldemort truly desires, thus helping Harry to kill him.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassirin

As for Dumbledore seeing himself with socks... I kind of see what those three people saw as symbolic of something bigger. Harry wants someone and somewhere to belong. He wants roots and he wants to be part of a family. Ron wants to live up to his brothers, as well as make his own name and succeed in his own right. And... this just might be my spin, but to me the warm socks speak of comfort and home. I kind of read that as Dumbledore is ready for real, lasting peace when the biggest problem he has to deal with is how warm his socks are. *shrug*

Oh this got me thinking~!
I agree with Ron and Harry. Want to add to The D Man and his socks. He wanted real, lasting peace....*sob* Well He's resting peacefully enough now no?
The mirror gave hints into their future, in a way, I guess, but the real symbolism is there. Harry did notice how Dumby was looking older and more tired. He wanted rest and believed Death is just the next journey. Well now he's on that journey (maybe..maybe not) that just leaves Harry to find that comforting spiritual connection and loving bond that comes with family. Hope he does! The Weasley's are a lovely bunch and Molly does fawn over him so. Then theres the whole doubtfulness with Petunia not being all she seems. We can only wait and theorise I guess.
Patience is a virtue I hold not.
I want book 7 now!!!! LOL
~*=Cheeky "I've-got-a-theory" Weasley=*~

i think the mirror will help harry discover the remaining horcruxes and destroy voldemort.