Heterodoxy (was Priori Incantantem/Deletrius)

[Aberforth's Goat]

No: HPFGUIDX 25824

Steve confided,

> I think for me, this whole thing was a bit of a turning point. [....]
>
> So now I don't expect quite the cleverness from JKR that I once did.
> Now, for example, when we start discussing which house people were
> in, I just figure it's Gryffindor, because it almost certainly is.
> EVERYONE'S in Gryffindor. Whatever. When people express fond hopes
> that Draco might be "redeemed," I don't bother reading them. He won't
> be. He's just a stereotype, part of a House that's just a stereotype.

Steve, this sounds like sedition! I'm beginning to wonder it's time to elect
a board of inquisitors to deal with such scandalous thoughts. (Burning
emails may prove a little difficult, though ... ) <cynical grin>

Seriously, though: I am a little surprised. That's a pretty dark take on
Rowling's artistic vision! I find the houses' apparent moral polarity
disturbing. However, I have a hunch (or is it just a wish?) that Jo is too
good a story teller - and has too much real life under her belt - to keep
from turning a table or two at some point. In any case, the opera definitely
ain't over till the Fat Lady sings. (Or the Bloody Baron, as the case may be
... )

But the various bungles in the priori incantatem narrative seem (to me) more
like errors of haste and distraction than evidence of a shallow artistic
vision. I think Rowling put herself under way too much pressure to finish
GoF for a predetermined deadline, which lead to a generous collection of
Flints and plot holes.

I also have a hunch that Jo knows this better than anyone else - and my
guess is that it isn't a pleasant feeling. I'm convinced that she can do
better than GoF, and I think she will. I see some evidence of this in her
refusal to set any dates on OoP. I'm  looking forward to seeing in OoP the
sort plotting we got in PoA: some confusion around some of the details (on
the level of our Marauder's Map Mysteries) but a tight, sound and compelling
plot.

Or am I just an incurable romantic?

Baaaaaa!

Aberforth's Goat (a.k.a. Mike Gray)
_______________________

"Of course, I'm not entirely sure he can read, so that may not have been
bravery...."