A brief recap first, the Peverell Brothers are who are believed to have inspired “The Tale of the Three Brothers” which is a story in The Tales of Beedle the Bard. Harry hears this story for the first time at the Lovegood home in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The story goes: three brothers are traveling one day at twilight, when they come across a river that appears far too dangerous and impossible to cross. The three brothers use their magic create a bridge to cross the river, defeating Death, and out of anger, Death offers them “rewards” for their smarts. The first brother wants an unbeatable wand (the Elder Wand), while the second brother wishes for something that will bring back those from the dead (the Resurrection Stone), while the last brother wants a cloak (the Invisibility Cloak) that will hide him from anyone, even Death. Death grants each of the brothers these gifts and they part ways, the two eldest brothers believing they have once again gotten one over Death and humiliated him further. However, Death finds them quickly as the Elder Wand draws attraction from others and gets the first brother killed and the Resurrection Stone leads the second brother into madness and despair. The third brother lives a long and prosperous life and greets Death as an old friend at the end of his life. It is believed that should one person possess all three items (the Deathly Hallows) they will become the Master of Death.
This story is a treasured moment we’ve all come to enjoy over the years. Everyone knows that the three brothers in the story are the Peverell brothers: Antioch, Cadmus, and Ignotus. This Harry Potter theory believes that this story is reflected in Harry’s own life. Voldemort is Antioch Peverell, as he is on a quest to be unbeatable and that is why he desperately desires the Elder Wand. But like Antioch, he is unaware of how it’s true power works. The Elder Wand is not passed down, but must be taken by force. As Voldemort did not physically take the Elder Wand from Dumbledore (Draco Malfoy did), he is not it’s true owner. Voldemort learned that lesson in death.
Severus Snape is Cadmus Peverell, who so desperately wanted to be reunited with the dead love of his life. Cadmus fell in love and became engaged, but sadly his love passed away before they could wed. So distraught, he requested the Resurrection Stone from Death, but in doing so, he led to his own demise. When he brought back his dead love, she was not the same. She was sad and cold. He was driven mad with his longing and took his own life. Snape is a very clear parallel to Cadmus in how he spent the rest of his life wishing to be reunited with Lily Potter and only in death was that truly possible.
Harry Potter is Ignotus, as he never truly wished to defeat Death. He merely wished to live his life as best he could, and when he believed it was his time to die, he greeted Death openly in that Forbidden Forest. If Voldemort, Snape, and Harry represent the Peverell brothers, the theory then continues that Dumbledore is Death in this story. Fans are very fond of this theory, as it fits in nicely with the story that the brother greeted Death as an old friend and “went with him gladly, and, equals, they departed this life”. When Harry died, he was greeted by Dumbledore in King’s Cross Station. This theory is so canon, even J.K. herself agrees with it.
Dumbledore as death. It’s a beautiful theory and it fits. https://t.co/QqTQm2QnI0
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) August 21, 2015
So do you agree with the phrase “one died for power, one died for love, one greeted Death as an old friend”? Because we sure do.
