[HPforGrownups] Re: The Marauders Vs. The Trio-who is who?

[elfundeb]

No: HPFGUIDX 42552

Stepping gingerly into the generational parallel minefield . . . .

The text of HP virtually begs the reader to look for parallels between the current generation at Hogwarts and the MWPP generation; this discussion has recurred several times just since I've been on the list. But the fact that each time various posters offer up inconsistent parallels is, I think, significant.

Recently, I've become more aware -- and disturbingly so -- of two generational parallels not involving the Trio.  One is the parallel between Snape and Draco Malfoy, as exemplified by Draco's attempts (especially in PS/SS) to get Harry (and the Trio) in trouble while himself maintaining a rule-abiding aura; this fits very neatly with Sirius' remark about Snape and the Prank ("It served him right. . . . Sneaking around, trying to find out what we were up to . . . hoping he could get us expelled.")  In fact, any attempt I make to frame a Snape backstory is informed primarily by the Draco-Lucius relationship.

The other parallel is the one between Neville and Pettigrew.  Despite my desire to discount the parallel on the basis that the textual references make it too obvious (especially Harry's visions in PoA ch. 11 where Pettigrew resembles Neville), the parallels force their way out into the open.  Both are widely believed to be weak wizards (McGonagall remarks at the Three Broomsticks that Pettigrew was "not in [the Marauders'] class", but Pettigrew demonstrates more than adequate power in GoF, and in the framing of Sirius.  Likewise, Neville is portrayed as a near-Squib, but his latent powers are apparent with each ruined cauldron.  

The reason I find the parallels disturbing is that the theme of choices (which echoes my own free-will philosophy), would be undercut if each character in the younger generation merely repeated the mistakes of his older counterpart.   Fortunately, most of the parallels we have seen are incomplete.  For example, I see a parallel between Neville and Lupin as well as one between Neville and Pettigrew.  Both Neville and Lupin are followers rather than leaders.  For Lupin, I think the friendship of the other Marauders was so important that he was willing to overlook the dangers of their activities; also McGonagall states in PoA, at the Three Broomsticks, that James and Sirius were the leaders.  And Neville is often seen doing things (e.g., attacking Malfoy, trying to stop the Trio from going after the Stone) because he has been told that's how he should behave.  In addition, both Lupin and Neville are concealing secrets, Lupin about his condition and Neville about his family.  

For another example, take James & Sirius, on the one hand, and Harry & Ron on the other.  There are some obvious similarities.  But it is not a complete parallel.  As has been pointed out already, in their penchant for mischief, James and Sirius far more resemble Fred & George than they do Harry & Ron.  They have never, after four years, shown interest in practical jokes, or lifting food from the kitchens, except for undernourished Sirius, and only after Hermione, of all people, showed them how to get in (note that Dumbledore tells Harry at the end of PS/SS that James used the Invisibility Cloak mostly for stealing food from the kitchens).

I could add more.  But I think my point is this:  If you look for a parallel, expecting to find it, you surely will.  But I might find different ones, equally appealing in their own ways.  As Darrin said, "this parallel thing doesn't have to be exact."  And therefore, fascinating as it is to look for the parallels, because there may be multiple parallels for a particular character, we should be wary of using a parallel as a predictor of a character's future actions.  Draco is still redeemable; Neville isn't necessarily a traitor.  Because if that's how the series turned out, I would feel very cheated.

Debbie
who is herself an inexact parallel to several characters



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]