[HPforGrownups] Character: Minerva McGonagall

[Amanda Lewanski]

No: HPFGUIDX 6743

John Walton wrote:

> 1) In PS, she jumps to the conclusion that Harry and Hermione tried to lure
> Draco out of bed up to the tower with the story about the dragon. Does this
> seem unfair and out of keeping with her fair-but-firm attitude?

Well, given Draco's frantic explanations, it might well have sounded like he'd
gotten caught and was trying as hard as he could to take somebody else down,
too. If I'd had, as a teacher, to put up with Draco's machinations, I'd be
inclined not to listen too hard, either. She *is* human, after all, and she'd
probably also just been woken up.

> 2) Does JKR overdo the "Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" idea? Y'know, they've
> even cast Maggie Smith as McGonagall...::knowing look::

Knowing look wasted. Not familiar with the reference.

> 3) What is the significance of her "protection" method for the Philosopher's
> Stone (the giant chess-set)?

Well, the game of chess is methodic, rational, and playable by one who simply
knows the rules--but mastery requires the intangible, the flash of insight, the
hunch, the genius. She's set up a barrier that seems mundane but requires a
certain amount of intuition, instinct, and willingness to take risks.

> 4) Continuing the theme from question 1, what are possible reasons for
> McGonagall not punishing Harry -- indeed, rewarding him -- for flying
> unsupervised in PS? Hermione even thinks that this is inconsistent with
> McGonagall in general. Again, does this have any greater significance than a
> Good Plot Device?

Great significance. It shows she's human. Despite her laudable attempts to
cleave to an objective stance towards her own House, she simply can't let the
opportunity to have such a Seeker pass by.....thereby letting her House have a
stab at winning the cup back from Slytherin. This is a bending by one who seems
unbendable, thus showing she is, in fact, bendable to a degree, if only on her
own terms. She, like Snape, seems to have a rather severe internal code, and
deviations therefrom are noteworthy as character illustration.

--Amanda, still rather inebriated and hoping some of that made sense. At least
I'm not doing typos yet. Yet.