[HPforGrownups] Re: The Quidditch Metaphor: The Role of Quidditch in HP

[Sherry Garfio]

No: HPFGUIDX 48232

Ali started by quoting Debbie's most excellent Quidditch post, and then wrote:
> I would reach the same conclusion as you. Namely that Harry has the 
> best equipment, but he is nevertheless the most able player. I know 
> that this does happen with sportsmen, the best players get the best 
> equipment.  An example would perhaps be Formula One Racing, where the 
> best teams are the ones with the best cars and the best drivers. 
> There comes a point though when it's not quite clear how much we are 
> marvelling over the car technology and how much we are marvelling 
> over the drivers skill. 
> 
> I feel that this is also true of Harry. We *know* that Harry is a 
> natural. He was the youngest player for a century, and was discovered 
> when using an old school broom. Why then does JKR need to give him 
> the best broom that money will buy. The Quidditch team and indeed the 
> whole school seem in awe of Harry's broom, but isn't this really 
> unfair competitive advantage. To me, it almost overshadows his 
> natural talent. Is this JKR's idea that the opposition forget how 
> good Harry actually is because they are too busy concentrating on his 
> broom?

And *how* do the best Formula One drivers get the best cars?  Sponsors!  Harry
has sponsors too.  He doesn't buy his own brooms, he gets the first from Prof.
McGonagall, who discovered him, and the second from Sirius.  Sponsors who have
a lot to gain from Harry's success, both on the Quidditch pitch and against
Voldemort.

In addition to having the best broom (and also beating the Slytherins during
the short time when he does not have the best broom), I think another analogy
that Debbie may have been alluding to is the fact that Harry also has the best
"equipment" for fighting Voldemort - i.e. his own talents, his supporters, and
his wand that happens to be the brother of Voldemort's.

Thanks again, Debbie, for your wonderful analysis, which I forwarded to a
friend to entice her to join this group!

- Sherry


=====
"The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above-average drivers."

      -Dave Barry, "Things That It Took Me 50 Years to Learn"

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