[HPforGrownups] Re: SHIPs and Young Love

[Laura Huntley]

No: HPFGUIDX 36156

DG wrote:
>One of the things that has struck me about this series is that the
>complexity of the books is growing in synch with the maturing of the
>characters; a 14 year old Harry and friends gets a much more mature
>and complex story than an 11 year old same.
<snip>
>It's clear from GoF that Harry & Ron are on the cusp of discovering
>girls, and it seems equally clear that a relationship betwixt Ron and
>Hermione is developing (although where that ultimately leads is pure
>speculation at this point)

Now, I would just like to point something out here.  I've heard allot of noise about how Jo is so great at developing the characters/books according to character's age.  However, IRL, can you imagine *any* 14 year old boy just being *on the cusp* of noticing girls?  In this aspect, Harry/Ron behave more like 11/12 year olds than 14 year olds.  Harry and Ron behave/think *incredibly* innocently for their age.  Most 14 year olds are obsessed with sexual things, moreover, they are well into puberty.  Of course, if the HP books were *completely* realistic, we would have Harry (there's just no delicate way of putting this) masturbating and *many* more "Uranus" type jokes from Ron...which would be NO FUN.  Realistic, yes.  Representative of healthy 14 year old boys, sure.  But, still, who wants to read about that?  I like it the way it is, and I want it to *stay* innocent like that.  Who needs sexuality when you've got three-headed dogs and giant snakes?

laura 


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