Adolescence (was Hermione & JKR (Long))

[Ebony]

No: HPFGUIDX 3462

Great comments, Peg!

--- In HPforGrownups at egroups.com, Peg Kerr <pkerr06 at a...> wrote:
> I think that the things that we complain about, in Ron and Hermione 
in particular, are partly a function of the fact that they are 
entering the gawky adolescent stage.  When you're an adolescent, 
everything is larger than life, and so while some of their extremes 
make us cringe, I can simultaneously see the admirable adult in  
there, barely, struggling to emerge.  And so I feel very tender and 
protective of them, rather than annoyed.

You always put things so well.  *This* is why I turned down a GTA 
position at my university.  How could I leave my often awkward, 
always dynamic kids for cynical Gen-Xers and jaded "non-traditional" 
types?  The blessed contradiction inherent in adolescence is also why 
I love these books.  We may put our grown-up spin of sophistication 
over them, but ultimately the Harry, Ron, and Hermione we've fallen 
in love with are adolescent kids.

The most critical time of a child's intellectual development is 
between the ages of nine and fourteen.  During those years, my 
personality shifted radically.  We will see a similar change in the 
characters.  Harry is going to have more and more difficulty trusting 
people in the future.  Ron is going to have to wrestle with his own 
demons in order to remain by Harry's side.  Hermione is going to have 
to learn how to use her compassion.  As it says in the old prayer, 
she needs to gain the "serenity to accept the things I cannot change, 
courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the 
difference."

This weekend's as good a time as any to re-read the series 
leisurely... it's time, I think.  I'm teaching *Number the Stars* 
right now, so it'll be fun to note all the parallels that Brooks has 
brought up.

--Ebony

-----------------------
"Child of the pure, unclouded brow and dreaming eyes of wonder!
Though time be fleet, and I from thee are half a life asunder,
Thy wond'ring eyes shall surely hail
The love-gift of a fairy tale."
--Lewis Carroll

(BTW, let me try the sig survey for a change...)

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