HGTG - don't take offense

[morine10 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 11711


> I always felt mildly offended by the reference to Hermione as "the girl". 
> Frankly, I feel almost as irritated by reference to Ron as "the sidekick" 
> and even to Harry 
> as "the hero." IMHO, this strips down JKR's lovely complex characters 
> into overly simplistic stereotypes. 
> 

First, I want to say that HGTG is not meant to degrade or belittle Hermione 
in any way.  We all know that Hermione is anything but a typical 'girl'.  We 
also know that Harry, Ron, and the rest of JKR's wonderful characters are 
anything but 'simple.'  Of course, I don't think for the purpose of 
discussion that referring to them in those terms is in anyway offensive.  Of 
course that is just my opinion. :)

HGTG was a way (for me anyway) to understand the H/H stance.  I really 
thought of it quite some time ago when I only knew one other adult that had 
read the books and the only H/H-ers I knew were preadolescent readers.  (How 
wrong was I?)  I was under the impression that they were simply not old 
enough to catch JKR's subtle hints at the budding R/H romance.  It was my 
assumption that they were oversimplifying and thought that since Harry was 
the hero he should obviously be paired with the girl.  Since Hermione is the 
only strong, well-developed female character that is Harry's age, of course 
she is the obvious choice.  HGTG was born.  Since I'm not easily offended 
(and having just turned 30 I don't mind if anyone calls me *girl* <VBG>) I 
simplified.  Perhaps Hero Gets The Heroine (HGTH) is a better, more 
politically correct phrase.  Either way, don't read so much into it.  I mean 
really, you could say the same about FITD and whoever is dubbed the *cheese*! 
Never was it meant to become so *controversial*, really! :)


-Mo
Peace, Love, Harry Potter ~8^)
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"Can I have a look at Uranus too, Lavender?" - Ron Weasley, Harry Potter and 
the Goblet of Fire


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