In Defense of PoA (WAS Emotional Impact of CoS)

[cynthiaanncoe at home.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 27523

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Megan" <virtualworldofhp at y...> wrote:
> 
> I understand how time travel can seem like the "cheap" way out, but
> the method in which they used it was crafty, you have to admit. 
> Personally, POA was my favorite plot-wise (then again, I suppose I 
am
> a bit of an angst fan).  I don't see how it "undermines" the events 
in
> the books--perhaps you could elaborate more clearly on that.  
> 
> Upon more thinking (namely, me sitting here at my computer and 
looking
> at what I'd written really hard), the plot of POA does seem a little
> weak.  What is it based on, really?  Harry's mysterious gifts--and
> what really happened to Sirius Black?  COS' plot was a development 
of
> mysteries surrounding the attacks on students.  POA was less of a
> mystery and more based on Harry discovering more and more details of
> his parents' (father's) life and demise.  Yes, POA has a climax,
> building action, all that mumbo-jumbo...I suppose it comes as a 
matter
> of perspective...if you see a plot as in involving a mystery (isn't
> the proper English-class definition a "problem"?) then POA can be
> arguably "weak" in plot structure (and I suppose GOF falls into this
> category??), while PS and COS would remain strong.
> 

Now it is one thing to criticize CoS, and quite another to criticize 
PoA.  :)

I agree that PoA is a fundamentally different book than CoS because 
the latter is a mystery.  (And no, I won't bore everyone with all 
that stuff I said about why the two mysteries don't work as well as 
the two adventures, I promise).  But my lay understanding is that a 
plot requires that the hero have some problem to solve, some issue to 
confront, and that he solve it or confront it, preferably with lots 
of conflict and obstacles tossed in to keep things interesting.  In 
PoA, the "problem" is winning the Quiddich cup.  That's really the 
main plot line (I think).  To do that, Harry has to overcome the 
dementors, keep Black from killing him, defeat his romantic interest, 
and catch the snitch before his archrival.  That does add up to a 
plot.  

What I think makes the book charming despite this plot is that the 
sub-plots are so compelling, and Harry's Impending Sense Of Doom 
escalates throughout the book.  Sub-plots include Buckbeak, Lupin v. 
Snape, sneaking to Hogsmeade, and the flight from the Dursleys.  
Also, PoA is just plain funny in a lot of ways.

As for whether time travel is a cheap trick, well . . . yes, it is.  
Just like plots that tell us at the end that the whole thing was just 
a Bad Dream.  The difference is that the Bad Dream gimmick is often 
used to resolve all of the problems -- poof! they just never 
happened.  But in PoA, JKR plays fair with the time travel gimmick 
because she uses it sparingly.  It is used to solve two problems.  
One problem is saving Sirius/Buckbeak, and the other is generating a 
big Patronus to save Harry, Hermione and Sirius.  And even then, the 
time-turner only provides the opportunity for these rescues -- our 
hero still has to use his talent and wit to make it happen.  All 
other problems are resolved in the regular way. 

Except for the problems that can't be resolved and deny us a happy 
ending, that is.  Time travel doesn't prevent Wormtail from escaping, 
doesn't clear Sirius' name, doesn't prevent Lupin from transforming 
and losing his job, and doesn't prevent Harry from going back to the 
Dursleys.  Had JKR used the handy time turner to address these 
problems as well, it would have been way too handy.  Her restrained 
use of time travel causes it to work, IMHO.  And the fact that PoA 
does not have an entirely happy ending like PS/SS and CoS is one 
reason I find PoA more satisfying.

Cindy (who will defend GoF another day)