Winerip criticism of PS/SS

[Amy Z]

No: HPFGUIDX 14155

I just read a 1999 review of PS/SS by Michael Winerip, for the New 
York Times.  It was generally extremely positive.  The following 
criticism really got me thinking, though:

>Most noticeably, Hagrid, the gentle
> giant of a groundskeeper who has selflessly protected Harry over and 
>over, suddenly turns so selfish he is willing to let Harry be
> punished for something that is Hagrid's fault. That's not the Hagrid 
>I'd come to know. 

I had so completely failed to think of this in umpteen readings of 
PS/SS that I had to go back and flip through the last few chapters 
even to know what he was talking about: Harry and Hermione getting 
punished for getting caught after sneaking Norbert off the tower.  And 
you know, this does seem a loose end.  They would've taken the 
punishment anyway, but I think for everyone to be in character, this 
is what would have had to happen:  Hagrid wails that it's all his 
fault, if he hadn't had that ruddy dragon they wouldn't have gotten 
into trouble, and now they're going to lose the House Cup and he 
should just quit Hogwarts right now.  Harry and Hermione say it was 
their own fault for being stupid enough to leave the cloak on the 
tower, he'd be in much worse trouble for dragon-breeding than they 
could ever be for being out of bed, it won't do any good for Hagrid to 
get sacked on top of everything else, and even if he confesses his 
part in the events, McGonagall will punish them anyway for being out 
at midnight.  Hagrid grudgingly keeps quiet and allows them to be 
punished.  

On the other hand, maybe that whole interlude is completely 
unnecessary, since I didn't pick up on the problem in all this time 
(the ridiculously dangerous punishment bothered me, but not the 
Hagrid problem).  Did anyone else?

You can read the whole review at http://www.hpgalleries.com/a110.htm.

Amy Z

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   "Dumbledore, you know what that woman is?"
   "I consider her to be a very able Headmistress--
 and an excellent dancer," said Dumbledore quietly.
                       -HP and the Goblet of Fire
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