I was disappointed. Not that Snape died, really -- I expected it and don't blame her for that, it's the tried-and-true way of dealing with complex characters -- but I disliked some of the messages the book seemed to reinforce, unless one reads subversively (and I really don't think JKR intended readers to do that for "Deathly Hallows
( ... )
And I think this was a brilliant switch on Rowling's part. It was the Slytherin who taught Harry bravery and the Gryffindor who taught him cunning and cool logic.
A good point. I'll have to think about that.
I do acknowledge that the Slytherins had no reason to trust Harry or believe he'd win. But I would argue that seeing Voldemort overthrown IS in their best interest -- why on earth ambitious people would make up the majority of Voldemort's hem-kissing crowd is beyond me. If they can see that everyone else in the school seems to be united in the overthrow-Voldemort plan, it's less about trusting Harry than taking this last best chance.
The problem is, Snape isn't our one "fight for the greater cause" Slytherin, at least not if you think greater causes are things like Individual Rights or Good Rather Than Evil. He seems motivated by nothing but love for Lily.
By the way, I agree with you about Lily. I don't think less of her for doing what she thought was right for her own health and sanity. I don't even think Snape loved her, I
( ... )
The problem is, Snape isn't our one "fight for the greater cause" Slytherin, at least not if you think greater causes are things like Individual Rights or Good Rather Than Evil. He seems motivated by nothing but love for Lily.
Yes, you're right. Also, I agree that the Slytherins could have been better handled. I think someone - sigune, perhaps? - said that Rowling bit off more than she could chew. She ended up creating more characters than she could actually deal with effectively
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It makes perfect sense, as usual! I'm endlessly fascinated about the difference between authorial intent and what readers take from a book.
I think Rowling is trying to say that he already had joined the DEs. You may be right. I didn't see it that way: I saw Snape as teetering near a major life decision without entirely realizing it
( ... )
I just stumbled upon this essay about the book and, naturally, was agreeing loudly with it the whole time until DH (husband, not book) had to stop me and have me read it to him.
Interesting. I'm not sure I agree with it, but it's very interesting.
Here's what I don't agree with: - Harry doesn't change or grow. But I think he does. Just because there's never a question of him choosing the side of "good" doesn't mean he is a static character. Sawyer of the article says "puberty aside" as if this change were less important than the question of good versus evil. I think about my students reading these books. They don't, for the most part, question that they're "good" people. (Most people think they're "good," I think.) They're not looking to choose the "good" or the "evil" path in life. But they do know that they have flaws: they don't work hard enough; they're too emotional; they're not willing to listen to advice; they isolate themselves when they should call on friends to help. These are very adolescent concerns, I think. In this sense, Harry grows up. This is a coming of age story more than anything else. At least, that's how I read it. The "good" versus "evil" debate is more of an adult one
( ... )
In this sense, Harry grows up. This is a coming of age story more than anything else. At least, that's how I read it. The "good" versus "evil" debate is more of an adult one (IMO).It's true, he's certainly not static. The reason I agreed with the essay is it seems Harry's issues -- particularly jumping to conclusions and his hatred of Snape -- are resolved without any struggle on his part. Jumping to conclusions? It's OK! He happens to be right! Except where Snape is concerned, at least -- which brings us to No. 2, and ... well, that just went away for no apparent reason. I don't mean when he viewed Snape's memories; I was struck long beforehand that his raging anger at the end of Half-Blood Prince had petered out. We get that one moment of him yelling "Snape!" when we learn who sliced off George's ear, but that's it. I expected him to have to work through this, and it was odd that he didn't
( ... )
I was struck long beforehand that his raging anger at the end of Half-Blood Prince had petered out. We get that one moment of him yelling "Snape!" when we learn who sliced off George's ear, but that's it. I expected him to have to work through this, and it was odd that he didn't.You're exactly right. It did seem, at the end of HBP, that Rowling was setting us up for a major confrontation between Snape and Harry. And it never came. Now that I think about it that way, I'm pretty disappointed! Not in her characterizations, exactly ... but in her plotting. It's just another one of those instances when she seemed to promise a story that didn't develop. I read over a transcript of her most recent Q&A chat (post-DH) and someone asked about the character who was supposed to develop magic late in life. Her response was something like "Oops, wasn't able to fit that in. Sorry." And I thought, wow, that's something I'd do in a fanfic (if I ever finished). But I didn't expect Rowling to do this! Makes me realize I expected a little too
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Re: Part II of the abovedeebleJuly 30 2007, 20:19:18 UTC
I haven't seen that show -- it sounds interesting. (I found Smallville interesting for a similar reason -- young Lex Luthor is teetering at the edge of Good and Bad, wanting his screwed-up father's approbation.)
Anyway -- I've just realized that we're sort of making the same point about Harry. I didn't want him to considering going Dark, either. That wouldn't make sense for his character.
I think this is what disappointed so many people about the series ... that it ended up being the children's story that the NYT and others always claimed that it was.
Re: Part II of the abovesophieromJuly 30 2007, 21:24:53 UTC
(I found Smallville interesting for a similar reason -- young Lex Luthor is teetering at the edge of Good and Bad, wanting his screwed-up father's approbation.)
Yes! I actually haven't watched Smallville since Season 3 (I think, maybe Season 2). But I watched it for Lex rather than Clark. Sure, Clark was nice to look at in his corn-fed manly way, but give me the tortured bald guy and his devious father any day of the week! ;-D (The father reminded me a great deal of Lucius ... wait, was his name Lucius? What was his name?) Have you kept up with the show?
Hope all is well with you.
It is, thanks! (Well, I have my econ class in an hour, and I'm getting a test back. I feel like I'm in high school all over again. ;-D Otherwise, I'm grand.)
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A good point. I'll have to think about that.
I do acknowledge that the Slytherins had no reason to trust Harry or believe he'd win. But I would argue that seeing Voldemort overthrown IS in their best interest -- why on earth ambitious people would make up the majority of Voldemort's hem-kissing crowd is beyond me. If they can see that everyone else in the school seems to be united in the overthrow-Voldemort plan, it's less about trusting Harry than taking this last best chance.
The problem is, Snape isn't our one "fight for the greater cause" Slytherin, at least not if you think greater causes are things like Individual Rights or Good Rather Than Evil. He seems motivated by nothing but love for Lily.
By the way, I agree with you about Lily. I don't think less of her for doing what she thought was right for her own health and sanity. I don't even think Snape loved her, I ( ... )
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The problem is, Snape isn't our one "fight for the greater cause" Slytherin, at least not if you think greater causes are things like Individual Rights or Good Rather Than Evil. He seems motivated by nothing but love for Lily.
Yes, you're right. Also, I agree that the Slytherins could have been better handled. I think someone - sigune, perhaps? - said that Rowling bit off more than she could chew. She ended up creating more characters than she could actually deal with effectively ( ... )
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I think Rowling is trying to say that he already had joined the DEs. You may be right. I didn't see it that way: I saw Snape as teetering near a major life decision without entirely realizing it ( ... )
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Perhaps you'll be interested too:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20070725/cm_csm/ysawyer;_ylt=Ai2wauD9Mc0r6j
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Here's what I don't agree with:
- Harry doesn't change or grow. But I think he does. Just because there's never a question of him choosing the side of "good" doesn't mean he is a static character. Sawyer of the article says "puberty aside" as if this change were less important than the question of good versus evil. I think about my students reading these books. They don't, for the most part, question that they're "good" people. (Most people think they're "good," I think.) They're not looking to choose the "good" or the "evil" path in life. But they do know that they have flaws: they don't work hard enough; they're too emotional; they're not willing to listen to advice; they isolate themselves when they should call on friends to help. These are very adolescent concerns, I think. In this sense, Harry grows up. This is a coming of age story more than anything else. At least, that's how I read it. The "good" versus "evil" debate is more of an adult one ( ... )
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~dances around joyfully~
~realizes that you've been convinced that DH isn't quite as enjoyable as you thought it was; feels guilty~
I don't feel as disappointed with DH as I was with the Star Wars prequels, so I suppose it could be worse. Perhaps I'll go read some John Irving.
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Anyway -- I've just realized that we're sort of making the same point about Harry. I didn't want him to considering going Dark, either. That wouldn't make sense for his character.
I think this is what disappointed so many people about the series ... that it ended up being the children's story that the NYT and others always claimed that it was.
Yep, pretty much. ;-D
Hope all is well with you.
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Yes! I actually haven't watched Smallville since Season 3 (I think, maybe Season 2). But I watched it for Lex rather than Clark. Sure, Clark was nice to look at in his corn-fed manly way, but give me the tortured bald guy and his devious father any day of the week! ;-D (The father reminded me a great deal of Lucius ... wait, was his name Lucius? What was his name?) Have you kept up with the show?
Hope all is well with you.
It is, thanks! (Well, I have my econ class in an hour, and I'm getting a test back. I feel like I'm in high school all over again. ;-D Otherwise, I'm grand.)
How about you?
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