Why I Dislike The Twins

[alhewison]

No: HPFGUIDX 43297

I've written this post a couple of times now, and discarded it, but 
here is my latest attempt:-

Really, this follows from Cindy's assessment on why the discussion re 
the twins as bullies became a bit shall we say "empassioned"

Whilst I was reading the posts I seemed to agree with those who felt 
that the twins were bullies, and then immediately afterwards with 
those who thought otherwise (my pre-debate position). Now I hover 
undecided between the two groups. What is certainly true though  is 
that I will search far more for the twins motivation in future books 
than I would have done had this discussion not taken place.


I don't have a really strong opinion on the twins. Some of their 
behaviour might seem to have "bullying" as an underlying 
characteristic. I can accept Shaun's definition of them as 
charismatic bullies. But I *enjoyed* many of their scenes. Even if I 
was left feeling uncomfortable over the TTT incident I still liked 
Harry seeing his tormentor getting his just deserts. I didn't like 
the way the twins treated Malfoy and Co - that did somehow breach a 
code of ethics or two - but that didn't prevent me stiffling a 
snigger.

My point? I don't like bullying at all. I've seen victims, I've been 
a victim (in a relatively mild sense) of bullying in the workplace. I 
know it is wrong - how then can I like characters who show this type 
of behaviour as a defining characteristic? You're right, it certainly 
made me feel defensive. It also made be feel like a hypocrite. I, who 
will happily get on my high horse and defend my high moral standards 
and libertarian values can *enjoy* unsporting behaviour because it is 
at the hands of "goodies". Perhaps I don't deeply believe any of the 
causes or values I claim to espouse...


This is where the idea of having 2 plains of reading, comes in handy -
the reading in which we look at the Potterverse v. RL has led me to 
some uncomfortable feelings; the reading of Potterverse as fictional 
characters allows me to enjoy the twins as the buffoons *I think* JKR 
intended us to see. Here again I'm probably being hypocritical, 
changing between RL and fantasy at will. At the end of the day 
though, I don't think that anyone has done me a disservice by forcing 
me to re-evaluate my beliefs - quite the reverse. I for one have not 
been bored by this discussion, and I wonder if I'm alone in taking 
the subject of bullying outside the Potterverse and back into 
the "Real" World I inhabit most of the time?

I also agree with Cindy on the affect that this group has had on my 
appreciation of the books. Sanpe fans don't flame me, but before I 
joined this group I thought Snape was foul, evil, loathsome. I had 
become convinced about LOLLIPOPS (of course I didn't call it that) 
but I had totally failed to see the layers of his character that now 
seem so obvious. As a matter of fact, I still don't like him, but I 
now find him one of the most interesting characters, and look forward 
to his back story being fully developed.


Ali

(who promised her husband this post would only take 5 minutes, woops!)