The history of the veil...

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As far as the meaning of the veil...I think it is the ultimate symbol in the books of the fragility of life. Tattered and torn hanging from an ancient archway it looks as if it might decentigrate if someone merely touches it. In another way JKR shows us that the young may not always realize how fragile life can be. As Harry ascends the dias the death eaters become nervous, probably because they know of what the veil is capable. Harry, being young, and naive about the veil is not nervous about his location, in fact he is curious. The death eaters and Hermoine are nervous about the veil and see Harry as being reckless for different reasons: the death eaters because he has the prophecy; and Hermoine because she thinks the veil is dangerous. Ginny is also drawn to the veil, perhaps because she has been so close to it before when she was hovering between life and death in COS. Luna, much like the cycles of the moon, beleives, and as a character is probably related the most to the greek writings and to certain religious beleifs that we will see our dead loved ones again. To sum up, the perspective that Harry gains after Sirius passes through the veil finally washes away any naivete that he might have had about the fragility of life. I think that JKR uses the veil as a symbol of how fragile life is. As often with young people, it takes the death of a loved one to reign in reckless behavior and also takes away alot of the innocence that childhood gives. Perhaps we will see the veil again in the books, it appears it became a form of punishment in the past, perhaps this is how Grindelwald was eradicated?