Opening the Chamber of Secrets (on Lockhart)

[Kelley]

No: HPFGUIDX 11602

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Neil Ward" <neilward at d...> wrote:
> IMO, Gilderoy Lockhart is one of the most singularly unpleasant 
characters JKR has written and, perhaps, one of the reasons this book 
comes up a little short of the others.  He is so completely self-
obsessed, that it becomes stifling, in spite of the humour.  Of 
course, he is a caricature, but he represents a kind of shallow, 
delusional vanity that is all too common in our convenience-driven 
world.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<  
 
Hmm, interesting.  I know I'm in the minority with this, but I loved 
Lockhart.  Personally, I don't know anyone in life who is as shallow 
or narcissistic as he is, so to me he is pure fiction.  I found him 
to be an hilarious bozo, nothing more.  I realise there are many who 
have his vanity and shallowness, though I don't know them.  Skeeter 
is a character I hate, perhaps because I've had experience with 
people who twist my words and tell the world my business.  PoA is 
unboubtedly my favorite, with GoF and CoS tied for next, almost tied 
three ways with PS/SS.  Maybe my favorite HP is whichever one I 
happen to be reading...

>Neil:
> I love the scene in the staffroom when all the other teachers gang 
up on Lockhart.  It's a very revealing interaction and it's one of 
those moments that makes you want to cheer, despite the fact that 
Gilderoy was, predictably, heading for a fall.  Not satisfied with 
that scene, JKR then allows Harry and Ron the pleasure of humiliating 
the wretch, before he snatches Ron's wand and wipes out his ego and 
his personality.  <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Despite my love for the GL character, I loved this too.  Both scenes 
seemed the perfect fate for Lockhart.  As for Skeeter, I would've 
liked to have seen her squashed beneath Hermione's heel, but, of 
course, JKR wouldn't do that, would she?  I was hoping for a worse 
fate for her, though; maybe next book.

Kelley
"Am I a professor?" said Lockhart in mild surprise.  "Goodness.  I 
expect I was hopeless, was I?"            ------CoS