Albino Peacocks

[griffin_potter]

Perhaps this is isn't significant but its really bothering me. When Harry and the others are taken to the Malfoy's and they are entering the gate. Harry looks up and it sees a "ghostly white shape abve him, and realized it was an albino peacock" normally I would probably have dismissed this as something significant but in the deluxe copy of the Deathly Hallows there is a beautiful color illustration of this peacock. So is it a patronus? If so who's? Somebody from the order?

[Weasleytwin]

I'm pretty sure it's just a peacock. The same peacock shows up in the first chapter, when Snape and Yaxley are entering the Malfoy's yard. 'Peacocks! That Lucius always did himself well!' or something like that.

[Pinkerton]

It was mentioned twice, but only in passing. The peacock was definitely fishy, lurking near the mansion and being so distinct in color.. but it was more than anything a symbol of the Malfoy family's love of all things elegant and powerful, as well as their passion for "purity".. what better to have strutting through the yard than a white peacock.

[SydneyCartonFan]

I had thought it might be Lucius's animagus form. But that provides a continuity problem.

[Tiphany]

The albino peacock is visually a bit like the Malfoys, isn't it? Handsome and pale and proud...

I think it's there to symbolise the manor - the wealth, the opulence, the traditions.

[AWW]

I think Albino peacocks are just meant to show how wealthy the Malfoy's are as they are very rare and hard to acquire.

Perhaps this is way out of left field and weird (sorry, I'm new), but the Playboy Mansion has several white peacocks and they are said to be one of Hef's prized posessions.

Not that the Malfoy's are like Hugh Hefner or anything...:lol

[SydneyCartonFan]

Originally Posted by AWW

I think Albino peacocks are just meant to show how wealthy the Malfoy's are as they are very rare and hard to acquire.

Perhaps this is way out of left field and weird (sorry, I'm new), but the Playboy Mansion has several white peacocks and they are said to be one of Hef's prized posessions.

Not that the Malfoy's are like Hugh Hefner or anything...:lol

I think Narcissa would have something to say about that!

[pandabear18788]

Originally Posted by Tiphany

The albino peacock is visually a bit like the Malfoys, isn't it? Handsome and pale and proud...

I think it's there to symbolise the manor - the wealth, the opulence, the traditions.

I agree completely... and I think it is well said.

The peacock could not be any of the Malfoys in animagus form, as they are all seen sitting in the house just moments later. And I don't see any reason for any Death Eater to be casting a Patronus at the Malfoy mansion- there isn't any mention of dementors around.

[Quicksilver]

Here are some interesting facts about the symbolism of peacocks:

In the Buddhist tradition, the peacock’s ability to eat poisonous snakes can be understood as a symbol of the transmutation of evil into good.

It is associated with Japanese and Chinese goddesses of mercy.

For Christians the peacock came to be regarded as a symbol of vanity, they found its usefulness in the idea that just as the beautiful peacock considers its own feet ugly humans should take note and lament their own imperfections no matter how great their worldly glory.

And one of my favorites:

In his Spiritual Couplets, the famous Sufi poet Maulana Jalalu-'D-Din Muhammad Rumi tells the following tale:

A sage went out to till his field, and saw a peacock busily engaged in destroying his own plumage with his beak. At seeing this insane self-destruction the sage could not refrain himself, but cried out to the peacock to forbear from mutilating himself and spoiling his beauty in so wanton a manner. The peacock then explained to him that the bright plumage which he admired so much was a fruitful source of danger to its unfortunate owner, as it led to his being constantly pursued by hunters, whom he had no strength to contend against; and he had accordingly decided on ridding himself of it with his own beak, and making himself so ugly that no hunter would in future care to molest him. The poet proceeds to point out that worldly cleverness and accomplishments and wealth endanger man's spiritual life, like the peacock's plumage; but, nevertheless, they are appointed for our probation, and without such trials there can be no virtue.

Masnavi e Ma’navi, Book V, Story III (E. H. Whinfield, tr.)

Take your pick. I think they all apply to the Malfoy's situation in some respect.

[Rezallia]

I took it as a bit of humor because, I dunno, I think of the insult "peacock", used in reference to someone affluent. Like a "painted peacock." And then Lucius is a small step away from being truly albino. Very close. I thought it was funny. Even though I felt a bit badly for Lucius.

Maybe it was meant to contrast a Lucius in all his glory and the present Lucius who had been sapped of that glory while in Azkaban. I loved the Malfoys's discontent!

But I still thought it was funny.

[Aestua_Nox]

That was just too fitting. I don't that there was anything significant or sinister about the peacocks; they just showed how wealthy, pure, etc. the Malfoys are. I can just see a baby Draco petting one....

As for the Patronus comment - I agree, no reason for there to be a Patronus around, especially since, as far as we know, only the Order communicates that way. Besides, on the second page. it's "strutting majestically along the top of the hedge." I'm pretty sure that Patroni fly.

[Voldemorts8thHorcrux]

its just a peacock, i think, and it isn't mentioned again after this

[Hermione Snape]

Yep, a peacock; I loved it though. Peacocks happen to be one of my favourite fowl and I've seen a white peacock and my breath caught in my throat ... guess I have the same tastes as Lucius...

[griffin_potter]

I had forgot it was mentioned in the beginning. Thanks! I think your right about the symbolism there it does fit in with the Malfoy's.

[quinn10000]

Indeed...the peacock is appropriate for the Malfoys. As others have said, they symbolize elegance/oppulance, yes. Another has mentioned that they are seen as symbols of vanity and those who are said to strut like them are described as vainglorious. Therefore...the albino peacock is perfect for the Malfoys. A creature regarded as proud and vainglorious...but in this case, drained of its color, the source of its pride. This was the case with the Malfoys. Quite a bit of pomp and vanity, but in the end, drained of the source of their vanity.

[RiverIsis]

I know they are albino peacocks but I remember thinking why would they have peacocks because their feathers are meant to be unlucky...

I have found this

Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894 Peacock's Feather Unlucky (A). The peacock's tail is emblem of an Evil Eye, or an ever-vigilant traitor. The tale is this: Argus was the chief Minister of Osiris, King of Egypt. When the king started on his Indian expedition, he left his queen, Isis, regent, and Argus was to be her chief adviser. Argus, with one hundred spies (called eyes), soon made himself so powerful and formidable that he shut up the queen-regent in a strong castle, and proclaimed himself king. Mercury marched against him, took him prisoner, and cut off his head; whereupon Juno metamorphosed Argus into a peacock, and set his eyes in its tale.

[padfootandme]

I bet the Malfoys just wanted to show that they were greater than others so they could afford to have rare creatures living on their land. I don't think there was anything... significant about them though.

[RiverIsis]

Yet, " an ever-vigilant traitor" describes the Malfoys so well.

[Sub Zero]

Malfoys will be Malfoys. What else says "we live in luxurious grandeur" than an elegant, albino peacock?

Originally Posted by RiverIsis

I know they are albino peacocks but I remember thinking why would they have peacocks because their feathers are meant to be unlucky...

I have found this

So that means Argus Filch's animagus is a peacock?

[all4music]

I think the albino peacock was a sly reference to the Malfoy attitude in general. Traditionally peacocks represent vanity. (Ever heard someone accused of strutting around like one?) Also to get albino ones would require careful breeding. To get several on purpose would almost certainly require inbreeding. Sound like anybody we know?