[HPforGrownups] Harry and Cedric (was Envy/Respect)

[Jen Faulkner]

No: HPFGUIDX 13195

On Wed, 28 Feb 2001, Katie Kearns wrote:

> I have to say, I don't agree with your reading. ;)

*shrugs*  It's okay, I won't take it personally.  (They *reject*
me!  No-ooo!) :)  Really, I just wish I could make the argument
persuasively enough to convince everyone, but I'll settle for being
clear and disagreed with.  *g*

> But I have a question for you: if the genders of everyone were switched -- 
> Harry-ette is thinking mean thoughts about Cedric-ette because she's going 
> to the dance with Mr. Cho.... would you consider the scene homoerotic? ;)

If it were written precisely the way the GoF scene is (with some
necessary substitutions for "handsome," "pretty boy," and the masculine
pronouns), absolutely.  Although female homoeroticism in literature
usually operates differently from male homoeroticism (offhand, I can't
think of a f/f rival-relationship portrayed homoerotically, but I'm
*certain* it's been done), in that it's more common to see friendships
eroticized between women than enmities, the reading I propose of the
Yule Ball scene is not dependent upon any wider knowledge of the way
erotics often comes into play in same-sex relationships in
literature.  What's key is the portrayal, not any particular gender of
the characters.  (And even if we were talking about Harry, Cedric-ette,
and Cho, I would still believe the relationship between H and Ce.-ette
to be portrayed in an eroticized manner, FWIW.)

--jen, who avoided a one-line "yes" response to that post :)

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