[HPforGrownups] More Old Hat & Dumbledore/Belgarath

[Herald Talia]

No: HPFGUIDX 24372


> What prompted my musings was rereading the first Sorting Hat song 
> (as I quoted: "There's nothing hidden in your head the Sorting Hat 
> can't see"), exchanging conversation with Harry, and remembering 
> that when Harry tried it on again in CoS the Hat immediately started 
> sniffing around and commented that he'd been wondering whether it 
> had put him in the right house.  This is a sentient, mind-reading 
> Hat capable of conversation we have here: that comment *isn't* just 
> a detection of a particular personality type but a correct 
> assessment of what Harry's been obsessing about for some time.  If 
> it can tell what Harry's been thinking about, and sees everything in 
> a person's head, it would definitely have detected Voldemort on the 
> back of Quirrell's head and known that Moody was really Crouch 
> Junior!
> 
> Coming to your second point, though, I think the Hat would have to 
> have some kind of confidentiality or no-memory clause.  Otherwise, 
> it could potentially remember what was in the mind of every student 
> in Hogwarts at 11!  What if the Hat fell into evil hands and started 
> gossiping?  I wonder what it said to the 11 year old Tom Riddle?

I still think the Hat is more of a personality profiler. Part of that is
detecting pressing immediate problems, in order to assess the 
personality better. When a person goes in for psychological treatment,
part of assessing their personality is assessing just what issues and
concerns are most pressing to them. So it automatically knew Harry's
problem in CoS because it was his most pressing.
"There's nothing hidden in your head the sorting hat can't see"
But that doesn't mean the SH will see it, or should see it. Dumbledore
could probably make use of it to see more, but I think it would need to
be used by a wizard. 
I like the idea of a confidentiality clause!


> Robyn:
> > Albus seems the most similar to David Edding's
> Belgarath the Sorcerer - he has a more direct and hands on approach 
> to
> dealing with evil, is training a younger one (who's an orphan), has 
> a
> great sense of humor and looks traditionally wizardly.
> 
> Maybe in circumstances they're similar, but I think Belgarath's 
> overall attitude and image is quite different.  Dumbledore's humour 
> is lightly ironic (terribly English, that!), articulate and 
> satirical, and he projects a sort of wise kindly grandfather image 
> most of the time, whereas Belgarath projects the disreputable, 
> slovenly old man image, and his humour is more sarcastic and 
> involves baiting people, usually Polgara.  The kindly grandfather is 
> only an occasional visitor.
> 
> Compare Dumbledore: "What happened down in the dungeons (...) is a 
> complete secret, so, naturally, the whole school knows.  I believe 
> your friends Misters Fred and George were responsible for trying to 
> send you a lavatory seat."
> 
> with Belgarath (to Garion after he's just blown their cover): "Are 
> you sure you don't have a trumpet somewhere under your clothes?  
> Maybe you could blow a few fanfares as you go along."
> 
> OK, so not a perfect example for comparison, but I think it 
> illustrates the difference.  Further comments welcome...

That's true. I just meant in terms of having a hands-on approach to evil.
Also, I liked both characters - Dumbledore and Belgarath- I think
Belgarath is sarcastic only to get his point across - he is battling a
God, after all, and needs to train Garion quickly.  It's his style. But
the benevelent grandfather is there under the surface.You know he loves
Garion and would not sacrifice him to attain his ends. You get the same
sense of love from Dumbledore. 
Garion - after some fairly decisive event 
"Don't you wish you were still Old Wolf, and I was still Garion, and we
were in Faldor's barn with a wineskin and food I've stolen for you.
"Sometimes, Garion, sometimes" Belgarath replied with a wistful look on
his face.
(inexact quote.)
	Actually, I don't like the Gandalf -Dumbledore comparison at all.
Personally, I don't like Gandalf. He's aloof and condescending. He
doesn't tell his heroes everything, which I hate. Don't yell at me,
everyone. It's just an opinion.  I love Tolkein, and like a lot of people
on this listserve (I bet) I practically memorized The Lord of the Rings
when I was preadolescent. 
	The most refreshing thing about HP is that it is not another copy of
Tolkein. That's been done so many times, with varying degrees of success.
Let's just all admit that Tolkein was Tolkein and no one else is, though
there are other good authors. I like the way JKR can break away from
those traditions so easily and create something recognizable, yet new.
Robyn

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Donald heard a mermaid sing, Suzy spied an elf.
But all the magic I have known,
I've had to make myself- Shel Silverstein
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