The Twins were busy getting their butts handed to them by the Angels this afternoon so tonight when I usually turn on the game while I make dinner I had to find something else to watch instead.
ABC Family channel is running Harry Potter movies this weekend I guess so I watch The Goblet of Fire.
I have seen this movie before and I have read the books. But tonight I noticed something for the first time about the schools participating in the Tri-Wizard tournament.
Am I the only one out there that has never noticed before this that we have a reference to battles between European countries?
Hogwarts, which is Harry's school is located in England. The basis of all the Harry Potter books is based in England and that works because I believe the author is from England herself.
In the story there are 2 more schools that visit Hogwarts to participate in the tournament.
Beauxbatons (not sure of the spelling, I don't have the books in front of me) is the school from France. You can tell this by their school name, their accents, and the names of the teacher and students.
Durmstrang is the other school. While the books and the movie never reference this place to be in Germany there is definitely a "German flavor" to the participants from this school.
The spelling and pronunciation of this school suggest German or Prussian background as well as the main student, a young man with the name of Viktor Krum.
During the Tri-Wizard tournament these three countries compete with each country having a role.
The English school, which is of course the good guys, comes out in first place in the tournament in the events and while they have adversity they manage to pull through with bravery and determination.
The German school seems to be their main competition and in the story the German student goes as far as to become bewitched and to attack the English and French competitors. (The German attacks the French first and defeats them as the English comes to the rescue a little too late to save the initial attack but is able to assist after it takes place. WW II anyone?)
The French school has the weakest competitor and while resilient she just doesn't have the ability to take the competitions head on and requires help from the English on a regular basis in order to survive.
To throw another kicker in there the teacher and helper of the German is Igor Karkaroff which is a Russian name origin. He assists in the beginning but by the end is a person of no consequence in the large scale of the specific competition. He is however portrayed as someone that has done evil in the past and while he does acts considered vile in the beginning of the story he will run in the end, effectively terminating his aid to the German. (Once again think Russia in WW II. They were originally German allies to take over Poland but then when Germany attacked them they quit on them and would become a force the Germans have to worry about)
When you look at the story you have to wonder how much of the author's subconscious or even intent was to write in a way that mirrors the history of Western Civilization.
Am I the last person to notice this? Has everyone else already thought of this and I found myself outside the discussion? I do wonder.
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