In Defense of PoA (WAS Emotional Impact of CoS)

[jonathandupont at hotmail.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 27524

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., cynthiaanncoe at h... wrote:

> 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.

Agreed. I like POA - doesn't mean I can't criticise it.

 > 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.  

I'm not saying that the ending wasn't cleverly done - just, well, its 
still a cheap trick:-

Harry: Oh no! What are we going to do? Sirius is going to die!
Hermione: Oh, by the way Harry, did I ever tell you that I can time 
travel?
Harry: Wizards can do that? But what about saving my parents? Or 
Cedric in Book 4 that I shouldn't know about but Jon is inserting to 
make a point?
Hermione: Ah... but you see Harry - time travel is far too dangerous 
to be used ever. Except, of course for the stunningly important 
matter of helping me take a few more lessons. 
etc.

Time travelling in a story that isn't based on it - in a plot that 
isn't based on it - when its introduced out of the blue (and no, 
Hermione's schedule doesn't count) just feels to me a lot like 
cheating. Bit Deus Ex Machina as well, really.

Jon