[HPforGrownups] Re: Draco Malfoy is Ever So Lame

[Edblanning at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 39127

Naama quotes me (Eloise) quoting her:

> > Just one point. Draco's unsatisfactoriness originates (if I 
> > understand you correctly) from his presumed role of Peer Rival to 
> > Harry, right?
> > Well, I'm not sure that I agree that that is exactly his narrative 
> > role. I mean, yes, of course it is - he is a peer and a rival of 
> > Harry. The thing is, Draco is not Harry's true rival (arch enemy). 
> > The true rival is Voldemort, and in facing him, Harry is truly 
> > 
> 
> Eloise:
> 
> Isn't this the precise point?
> His narrative role *appears* to be as Harry's chief rival *within 
> Hogwarts*. 
> If he weren't who he is (say, he was an obnoxious Gryffindor), he 
> could even be his chief rival in the fight against Voldemort (whom I 
> would argue to be Snape, who receives in some ways similar treatment 
> from JKR).
> 
> 
> > The conflict with Draco is definitely 
> > not heroic, but that's OK. As far as narrative roles go, I'm quite 
> > happy with loser!Draco. He provides action which is fun to read. 
> > Voldemort action, on the other hand, is dark and stressful (the 
> > parts I least like rereading are the final denouments with 
> > Voldemort). 
> > If Draco was too powerful, it would make the skirmishes with him  
> too intense, which would change the balance of the books and of the 
> plot. 
> > Give too much power to Draco, make him successful, and you lessen 
> the 
> > 
> 
> Eloise countered:
> 
> This is of course true. But the point, I think, is that this 
> superficial rivalry *isn't* his literary function, although it is the 
> way he is *perceived* by some, who may not be as perceptive as you.
> 
> 
> Me: (Naama)
> 
> I've mulled over this, and I don't seem to get your point. 
> Are you saying that the "superficial rivalry" is not Draco's literary 
> function? Because *I* think that the superficial rivalry is precisely 
> Draco's role. My point was, that I am perfectly happy with this 
> superficiality, since the real, dark struggle occurs elsewhere. 
> Unlike Elkins, I don't find the character as it is so far 
> unsatisfying. The conflicts with him are lighter and fun to read and 
> I'm not sure that it can't just continue to be so. 
> However, maybe I'm missing the point. If I am, please explain it to 
> 

OK. I think it's the word 'superficial' that's ambiguous.
I meant that superficially, most of the time, in between Voldemort 
encounters, he appears to be the rival. That appears to be his function, but 
I suspect that Elkins may be correct in her theory that he will turn out to 
have a different one.

If you like there are two stories playing simultaneously, a school story and 
the bigger Good vs Evil (for the purposes of this argument, before anyone 
reminds me I don't like that dichotomy) story.
I think it is valid to argue that on the school story level, Draco could be a 
stronger rival, without detracting from the overarching Good vs Evil plot 
line. If that is his function.

> 
> 
> > So, in the context of the overall story, Draco is there, IMO, to 
> > underline Harry's strength, both for the sheer fun of seeing him 
> >get his but kicked, but also to prepare us for Harry's final victory 
> over 
> > 
> 
> Eloise:
> 
> Do we need to be prepared by his rivalry with another student? Each 
> book prepares us for his final victory through his confrontations 
> with Quidemort, Sirius, the Dementors, Tom Riddle and of course, with 
> the re-embodied Voldemort.
> 
> However, the Voldemort confrontations happen only episodically. 
> Characters like Draco and Snape (and from time to time, Ron, 
> Hermione, various Hufflepuffs, even the whole of Gryffindor, on 
> occasion) provide a background of character-building opposition over 
> which our hero must rise.
> 
> 
> Me:
> 
> But think about it. Harry is special enough and strong enough to 
> overcome Voldemort, or at least be a worthy opponent to him, right? 
> Then you can't have a *student* who seriously challenges Harry, 
> because it will diminish Voldemort as the major evil guy, and thus 
> diminish Harry's unique struggle with him. As I see it, Draco 
> 

That is a very good point! However, if he weren't such a loser, if he *were* 
providing some credible opposition to Harry and Harry were *still* overcoming 
him, then he would underline Harry's strength even more. Draco would have a 
long way to go before challenging Voldemort as the majot evil guy.

Although now you come to mention it, Voldemort is such a loser 
himself..........Mmm....perhaps it wouldn't take all that much!

> 
> Elkins said:
> "And on and on it goes, throughout four entire volumes. Draco just  
> can't do anything right. He is profoundly ineffectual, and not a one 
> of his purported advantages actually helps him at all."
> 
> But, if you assume that Draco is, in himself, competent and 
> successful (and, on my reading, this is how JKR intends to portray 
> him), then his ineffectuality in relation to Harry underlines Harry's 
> peculiar, even unique, strenght and abilities (ok, and his good 
> 

But I don't really see that competence or success, I'm afraid. If that is how 
JKR *intends* to portray him, I don't think she's succeeded.

> 
> 
> 
> >Apparently Bent!Eloise
> 
> Yup. ;-)
> 

I asked for that one! ;-)
 
I would of course prefer to see it as having a mature and integrated 
personality. ;-)

Eloise



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