Stereotypes - Goblins are to PS Movie as Jar Jar is to Episode 1?

[ftah3]

--- In HPFGU-Movie at y..., "cornflower_o_shea" <tenpinkpiggies at h...> 
wrote:
> This wasn't something I picked up on in the movie at all, but on my 
> second viewing I dragged my non-obsessed spousal unit along. He 
> thought the Gringott's Goblins seemed to be based on old cultural 
> sterotypes of Jews, a la Merchant of Venice - hooked nosed, yellow-
> skinned, cold, calculating, unfeeling money-counters. Did anyone 
> else feel this? I looked for previous discussions, but nothing came 
> up in my search. Comments?

Well, even though that's the Merchant-ish stereotype, I think the 
Goblin look was designed based more on the stereotypical movie 
goblin/small-distasteful-critter, as well as on descriptions from the 
book.  The fact that they also happen to be bankers, cold and 
calculating, with little regard for fuzzy feelings, is also the way 
they're written.  I guess, imho, if a comparison is going to be made 
between the Gringott's Goblins and the Merchant-ish Jew, it ought to 
start w/ the book, because all the details are there already.

And just for yuks, I'll give my opinion on that:  natch.  Rowling's 
goblins are also typical of fairy tale goblins, except taken to the 
next logical level in terms of becoming civilized.  As uncivilized 
brutes in fairy tales, they're generally cold, cruel, extremely money-
hungry and highly protective of their treasure troves.  Slap a little 
civilization on them, and what do you get?  Bankers!  :-P

Mahoney