[HPforGrownups] Re: The Limits of Tragedy in HP (WAS Sadness in books/fav books)

[Katze]

No: HPFGUIDX 32424

cindysphynx wrote:
 
> I take your points, and I would guess that the majority of readers
> feel that way, as people do like happy endings.  It makes sense and
> is quite reasonable.

I'm a sap...what can I say? ;-)

> 
> On the other hand, it would be immensely fun to see if JKR could pull
> of a series ending that is tragic rather than happy.  Happy really
> isn't that difficult to do because that is what the reader wants
> anyway.  The reader is expecting Happy and is pulling for Happy.  To
> do Tragic well and sell it has to be really hard, particularly with a
> main character like Harry, who is good and kind and young.
> 
> On the third hand, I would be very unhappy if Harry is just very
> seriously injured.  Having him languish at St. Mungos or Azkaban
> certainly will not do.  No, it is all or nothing.  He either escapes
> with a happy ending, or he dies.  I don't think I can handle anything
> in between, although I could tolerate Harry surviving but being
> emotionally scarred from the losses of his friends, etc.

This is an ending that I can deal with. It sounds silly, but I could
deal with anyone else dying, yes...including Ron, even though that one
would be really tough. I think if Harry is going to survive the series,
there will have to be tragic loss of his friends (like Ron, Hagrid,
Dumbledore). This I would be content with. The Cinderella story is not
fit for this series.

Have you ever read The Forever War? That was a perfect mix of tragedy
and happiness, and the ending was extremely satisfying. The character
finds happiness, but has been 'damaged' (both physically and mentally)
throughout his journey. 

My favorite books have exactly what you talk about. I haven't re-read
the book in a long time (so I'm writing from memory) but Watership Down
leaves the main character emotionally scarred, but it's not depressed or
dysfunctional. That was a wonderful story...love that one...(and I read
it for fun, not for required high school reading).

but now I'm just babbling...

> So a part of me wants to see JKR take on the challenge of a tragic
> ending.  It would really be like watching a high wire act with no
> net.  Like watching the team go for the two-point conversion rather
> than the tie.  Like taking the three-point shot instead of the
> layup . . . well, you get the point.  If she blows it and the ending
> is unbelievable, too depressing or otherwise clunky, she risks
> soiling the entire 15-year (by then) project.  If she pulls it off,
> her work will stand apart from a great deal of other fiction I've
> read, and no one could ever make the claim that HP is a children's
> book.
> 

I think JKR has done a wonderful job blending tragedy with humor, and I
hope that what ever end she writes will be satisfying.

> Bottom line:  I like to see people take chances, so I'd vote for a
> disturbing, tragic ending that causes all of her fans to wail, "But
> *why, why, why* did Harry have to die?"

I would burn them if this were the case (or perhaps just donate them to
the library). I don't want there to be a question as to why it ended a
certain way. I want the ending to fit, and be understandable (even if I
don't like it!). If Harry has to die for that, then I'll take a weekend
to recover. I'm thinking I might just take a peek (Oh My God!) at the
last chapter when the last book comes out and see if I can find a quick
reference to Harry (either alive or dead), so I can read the rest of the
book in full without rushing through it like I did GoF (and subsequently
gave myself a massive headache). I hardly ever do that (peek at the
end), but I'm not sure I can handle not knowing his fate when 7 comes
out. The longer we wait, more likely it is for me to read the book
backwards.

-Katze