the Nature of Magic - Thin - Child Abuse - Multiculturalism -

[meboriqua at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 20470

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Julie (a.k.a. Viola)" <viola_1895 at y...> 
wrote:
> 
> The one that bothered me the most, in canon, was Fleur. We see 
> through her that she's pretty and _female_, and therefore good for 
> nothing else - she comes in dead last in the Tournament. And, more 
> than that, is portrayed as haughty and manipulative.

Yes, that is true, but I just had another thought about Fleur.  
Perhaps she has the attitude that she does because she doesn't trust 
anyone - especially boys.  She only warmed up to Harry after he saved 
her sister.  I know, I know - if she wasn't nice to Harry after that, 
I can only imagine the names she'd be called, but he proved to her 
that he is a trustworthy person.  She is obviously close with her 
family, as her sister was the one chosen to be taken for the 2nd task, 
and her coldness towards others could be related to the fact that many 
people only approach her because of how she looks.  Fleur was chosen 
as a champion, after all, which means that she is more than her just 
her looks.  

It must not be fun to always question why people are interested in 
you.  Fleur has developed a thick skin out of necessity.  She doesn't 
always get what she wants either - Cedric didn't want to go to the 
Ball with her and she did come in last in the tournament.  Maybe we 
could say that JKR is portraying beautiful people as only human.  
Fleur may be a lot of things, but, IMO, she's no Barbie doll.

--jenny from ravenclaw*****************************