[HPforGrownups] Ravenclaw, etc. (was: Slytherin Amigos)

[Carol Bainbridge]

No: HPFGUIDX 43887

Julie wrote:

>As someone who would have most fervently begged the Sorting
>Hat to put me into Ravenclaw :-),  I'll go a step further and wonder
>why Ravenclaw has been the least developed house in the
>whole tale so far.

I wondered that too early on.  Actually I had wondered about both 
Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw.  I did read somewhere that JKR said, in response 
to a question on this very thing, we'd be seeing much more development of 
these two houses.  Since JKR has had the complete story planned out in 
advance, I have to think that leaving HP and RC so undeveloped was 
intentional.  Maybe she wants to show how as we grow we branch out.  When 
we're little we stay mostly with our family, then with neighborhood 
friends, then school friends, gradually moving out in larger circles.  Just 
a thought.  Of course, maybe JKR just didn't find much to say about these 2 
houses yet as they didn't add anything to plot development -- yet.

Julie again:
>I'd also love to see a rogue Slytherin character with a conscience
>-- maybe a character who's ambitious and enough of a social
>climber to live there, but who isn't a complete snob, a bully, or
>otherwise an all-around creep.

I wonder about this, though.  The Slytherin are clearly a Machiavellian 
group and I get the impression that JKR must not be terribly fond of this 
philosophy.  The only way I see a Slytherin character being anything other 
than a creep, snob, or bully is if that character sees that not being one 
is the means that will get them to their desired end.  I actually don't 
think every Slytherin needs to be a creep, snob, or bully; I suppose one 
can have a conscience... sort of.  It could make for an interesting 
conflict.  Lot of people feel the end justifies the means and don't think 
twice about it.  But what about a person who does believe that in most 
cases and in general, but finds him- or herself in a situation where the 
choosing the means to get to the desired end creates some kind of internal 
conflict.  I could see that happening.  It would fit in, too, with the 
theme of tough choices in the story.

>Wonder if either of these developments will happen along the
>way?

Wish I knew where to find that interview with JKR I read.  From what she 
said, we're definitely going to see more development of Hufflepuff and 
Ravenclaw.

Carol Bainbridge
(kaityf at jorsm.com)

http://www.lcag.org