Potterworld grown-ups are a sorry lot

[auroraalma]

No: HPFGUIDX 31084

annahunny  wrote:
> I'm sorry to say I don't think JKR has given us any truly admirable 
> grown-ups, with the arguable exception of Dumbledore, in the first 4 
> books.  The cream of the grown-ups are ineffectual at best.  By now 
> it seems obvious that Harry is IT in terms of fighting the evil that  
> could completely consume the wizarding  world.  Why the heck aren't 
> these folks turning cartwheels to support Harry?  Makes for good 
> reading, sure, but doesn't say much for the over-18 set in 
> Potterworld.

I do agree with you. 
But, at the risk of jumping back into the 'Is this a kids' book?/ Is there really any liturature that is children's literature ?, etc.' 
discussion, which I enjoyed reading here, I find that this is very  common in kids' books.  The heroes are often orphans, often away 
at boarding school, or stranded somewhere without adults. Think of the Narnia books, where mentor-like adults ae few and far 
between. (several other examples come to mind) Perhaps this is unrealisitic (the lack of adult intervention/ responsibility), but I think 
J.K. Rowling know what she is doing. That is, I think this is the kind of book that children and teenagers like to read. In real life, kids 
know that they are too powerless to do so many things without adults, so it is gratifying and empowering to read about a world 
where it is the kids who fight the good fight and are the heroes. How would it change the book if Harry knew that no matter what 
happened dumbledore would be there to stop Voldemort at the last second or always knew what was going on so whatever HRH 
found out wouldn't be that important?

Aurora