[HPforGrownups] Re: Percy!

[Amber ?]

No: HPFGUIDX 35871


Dang, I should've combined this in the other Percy post I wrote. Ah, the 
Mods can zing lightning bolts at me, if they wish...

Penny wrote:
> >I truly
> > don't see that she's trying to convey that Percy is to be disliked
> > as a character.

And Amy answered:
>I wish this were true, but how many readers would like someone like
>Percy if they knew him in person?  (Not I, so why do I have so much
>affection for him as a character?  Am I just perverse?  Or is it a
>chilling recognition that there but for the grace of God and a more
>secure sense of self go I?)

Hey! I know/knew someone in Real Life who was very much like Percy. Followed 
the rules to the letter, perfect grades on everything, very driven, and a 
bit pompous about it all. I was friends with her, I liked her. She was a 
wonderfully reliable person, always with ideas of things to do. The only 
problems that came up was when her ideas of what was "right" opposed with 
the groups.

I think everyone will agree with JKR goes a tad overboard with the 
cartoonish aspect of Percy. He gets some horrid lines but his actions are 
usually much more positive. And may I remind everyone that we see Percy only 
a fraction of the time. We can guess, but we don't know for certain how he 
is when he's not in Harry's sight. And what info we get about him, we get 
secondhand through Ron or the twins, who are NOT fond of their brother. 
Thus, it is tainted in a sense.

I am pretty certain I would like Percy if I knew him in Real Life. I like 
responsible, reliable people. You know that they are always going to be 
there for you. Yeah, they're uptight and pompous, but that's not all that 
they are. Same with Percy, who we get glimpses of other characteristics.

Of course, I'm biased, as I share some characteristics with Percy. And I 
don't think I'm that bad a person to be around. *grin* Of course, people are 
welcome to disagree...

~Amber

********
http://www.the-tabula-rasa.com

I am moved by fancies that are curled
Around these images, and cling:
The notion of some infinitely gentle
Infinitely suffering thing.
- excerpt from "Preludes" by T.S. Eliot

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