Re: Rambling a bit, I fear.cadesamaSeptember 21 2005, 04:09:45 UTC
So, yes, D. flaws that come along with the incompatibility of all those qualities become virtues as well, even though it makes no sense. And, as a consequence, to me he doesn’t look like someone almost perfect, but as a hypocrite.
Exactly. That's why I tend to refer to my problem as being that JKR didn't successfully cross the gulf with Dumbledore from being a plot device (in the first four books) to being a character (in OotP and HBP). As long as he's a simply a force in the books, we don't have to analyze his motives, his actions, or any contradictions between them. But when he's a character we have to look at those things, and it begins to grate that none of the other characters seem willing to do so, and that the image the author apparently wants to foster just doesn't line up with those things. It's pretty much the exact same problem that many people have with Ginny. We get told that she's funny, and that's she's nice, and the main characters clearly like her -- but we see that she behaves toward Zacharias Smith in a manner reminscent of how James Potter behaved, and have to wonder why it wasn't okay for James but is okay for Ginny.
Are they really? I remember them saying Hogwarts isn't less dangerous than any other place, which may or may not be true, but that's all :/
Yup. Up until HBP characters, usually Hermione or Hagrid, frequently say that Hogwarts is the safest place around. After Voldemort paying a visit in PS/SS, several students nearly dying in CoS, etc. It's only in HBP that we get the softened explanation that it's no worse than anywhere else (which, also, is untrue).
Exactly. That's why I tend to refer to my problem as being that JKR didn't successfully cross the gulf with Dumbledore from being a plot device (in the first four books) to being a character (in OotP and HBP). As long as he's a simply a force in the books, we don't have to analyze his motives, his actions, or any contradictions between them. But when he's a character we have to look at those things, and it begins to grate that none of the other characters seem willing to do so, and that the image the author apparently wants to foster just doesn't line up with those things. It's pretty much the exact same problem that many people have with Ginny. We get told that she's funny, and that's she's nice, and the main characters clearly like her -- but we see that she behaves toward Zacharias Smith in a manner reminscent of how James Potter behaved, and have to wonder why it wasn't okay for James but is okay for Ginny.
Are they really? I remember them saying Hogwarts isn't less dangerous than any other place, which may or may not be true, but that's all :/
Yup. Up until HBP characters, usually Hermione or Hagrid, frequently say that Hogwarts is the safest place around. After Voldemort paying a visit in PS/SS, several students nearly dying in CoS, etc. It's only in HBP that we get the softened explanation that it's no worse than anywhere else (which, also, is untrue).
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