Lack of human affection in books

[Jim Flanagan]

No: HPFGUIDX 12626

I have to disagree that there is a significant lack of emotion and 
affection.  A number of examples of emotional display can be found in 
the HP books.  I think that HP stacks up reasonably well against 
Narnia, LOTR, and other popular fantasy and SF in this respect.  
Physical displays are not all that common in the world of young 
adolescents, particularly when they were mistreated at home as Harry 
was.

Digressing slightly from the topic at hand:  IMHO, a lot of fanfic 
has gone entirely overboard with emotional displays. Some of the, 
ahem, "less gifted" authors write some extremely unconvincing 
romantic scenes, particularly with respect to the male half of the 
interaction. I don't just mean from the viewpoint of beer-swilling, 
sexist louts, but even as viewed by reasonably sensitive guys like 
myself <g>. (end of digression)

I generally find that JKR's handling of emotions to be believable and 
balanced, though, as you say, she doesn't give physical displays of 
affection a lot of emphasis.  Here are a few examples of credible 
emotional displays (positive and negative) from the canon:

Hermione - crying and hiding in bathrooms before the Troll incident 
in PS because she felt left out by the other kids. Afterwards, there 
was a bond of friendship between the three that "feels" warm, even if 
it doesn't translate into hugs very often.

Ginny's early crush on Harry translates into shyness and blushing
(cute!)

Hagrid - crying when Norbert and Buckbeak were in trouble.

Harry - feeling gratified when he received pictures from his parents' 
frends

Fawlks - crying phoenix tears <g>

Moaning Myrtle - crying because she felt excluded and picked-on

Couples - schnuggling in the bushes during the "Prom"

Hagrid and Madame Maxime (implied schnuggling?)

Dudley - coddled affectionately by his parents

Fleur - emotionally overcome when Harry saves her sister (Didn't 
Percy act uncharacteristically emotional when Ron was saved, as well?)

Molly W - Hugging F&G when they returned from the World Cup unharmed

Mrs. Crouch - sobbing during the trial of her son; then taking his 
place as she was dying so that he could escape

Percy & Penelope - schnuggling (and more???) in disused classrooms

Hermione - giving Harry a kiss on the cheek at the end of GOF



--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Julie Smith <whimzical at y...> wrote:
>  I've found it interesting how little affection/
> emotion/intimacy is in the books. I wonder why this
> is? Is it because the books are British, and let's
> face it, British people are much more stoicle about
> their feelings, or just that many of the characters
> are afraid of intimacy? 
>  It's understandable in Harry's case, the Dursley's
> probably touched him as little as possible and I bet
> the first hug he ever got was from Mrs. Weasley in GF.
> I feel so sorry for poor Harry, I want to reach out
> and hug him myself!
>  Sirius is sure reserved. He doesn't see Harry, his
> godson, for almost a year and he is all buisness and
> very nochalant when they do get together. Then when
> Harry comes within an inch of his life against
> Voldemort and is in serious pain you think Sirius
> could muster a hug or a few reassuring words, but no.
>  Proffesor Lupin is even worse, I think he has serious
> intimacy issues. He was reluctant to get to close to
> Harry (to coach him against the dementors) and then
> when Harry needed emotional sopport after a session,
> the best he could do was make a move to reach out and
> grab his shoulder.
>  I just bugs me how cold and guarded the magic world
> seems and I wish they's open up more, especially since
> Harry seems to need it so much.
> 
> 
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