[HPforGrownups] Harry Potter not a children's book?

[Natalie]

No: HPFGUIDX 23747

---- Original Message -----
From: "Sofie " <sofie_elisabeth at yahoo.co.uk>
To: <HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, August 06, 2001 2:35 PM
Subject: [HPforGrownups] Harry Potter not a children's book?


> I know many of you have argued time and time again that the Harry
> Potter books weren't originally aimed at children however I'd like to
> point out some things that suggest to the contray.
>
> My main point is the characters. Apart from Voldemort, not a single
> character could be described as entirely evil.<snip>
>I believe this was so children don't get to
> scared by the books.

But generally, in children's stories, the antagonists ARE purely evil--and,
conversly, the protaganists are pretty much good (with the exception of the
"Grumpy" character who nevertheless ends up doing the right thing). In fairy
tales, you have the stepmothers, the witches, the bad fairies, and the
hungry wolves. In the Chronicles of Prydain (Lloyd Alexander) you have
Arawn, Death Lord. In the Enchanted Forest (Patricia Wrede) you have the
Society of Wizards (who are mostly more comical than evil, but still are not
good). In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (and The Magician's Nephew)
you have the White Witch (or Jadis). (There are most definitely other
examples from Narnia, but I can't remember them). The Care Bears were
constantly staring down No Heart (a very appropriate, if overly simplistic,
name). The Fraggles had to outrun the giants to reach the trash heap. The
Smurfs had to watch out for Gargamel. Aladdin battled Jafar, Simba battled
Scar, and Aurora (Sleeping Beauty)/Phillip battled Melificent. You (more
than) get the idea. (Sorry...I was remembering my (fairly recent) childhood,
and the "You Know You're a Child of the 80s If..." list I was reading last
night didn't help any either).

Now, that's not to say that children's stories CAN'T have not-quite-so-evil
characters (Lewis' The Last Battle serves as a pretty darn good example)
(and that children can't handle them), but traditionally, they don't. IMHO,
the complex characterizations are actually aimed at a more mature crowd.

Also, you say that the not-entirely-evil characters a written that way so
children don't get scared. However, the most popular answer to the "What HP
Character scares you the most?" thread (excepting the dementors) seems to be
Peter Pettigrew. I also saw a Fudge and a couple of BC Jrs--but  almost no
Voldemorts. I think that purely evil characters have an other-worldly sense
about them that makes it easy for us (as well as children) to separate
ourselves from them. Also, JKR has shown no sign of easing up on the
creepiness to keep it kid-safe (and has said quite a few times that she
doesn't plan to).

That said, purely-evil-Voldemort's "Kill the spare," was easily the
creepiest line I've ever read anywhere. ::Shiver::

Natalie
natabat at crosswinds.net
http://www.natabat.barrysworld.net
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"The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win you're still a rat."
- Lily Tomlin