Defend OOTP against my horribly Muggle mind!

[feetmadeofclay]

No: HPFGUIDX 76589

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Wanda Sherratt" 
<wsherratt3338 at r...> wrote:
 
> Instead, she seems to be 
> labouring for heavy meaning and drama, and she's just not good 
> enough to pull it off.  OotP reminds me of the progress of many 
good 
> sitcoms, like "MASH", which start off very funny, then somewhere 
> along the line decide that making people laugh is a bit beneath 
> them, and it's time to start dealing with *serious* issues, and 
> improving people with moral lectures.  Rowling hasn't started 
> moralizing yet, but she does seem to have cast off her former role 
> as entertainer in favour of something more exalted.  I very much 
> fear that she is going to try something that she is not fitted for -
 
> a lofty tale of sacrifice and redemption. ]


Hmmmm that may be it.  It may be that I didn't come to like HP 
because Harry would be the saviour of the Wizarding World but just 
because I love Molly's uber momness and Arthur's wonderfully 
steadfast obsession with his unimportant job.  I love Ron Weasley's 
sweet blend of absolute arrogance and selfconsciousness. I even liked 
Hermione's consistent belief that she could do anything.  Even take 
every class Hogwarts had to offer. And they LET HER!  

It may be that what I love about the series isn't what the series 
will end up being about.  We can I guess see that in the desire to 
see Charlie and Bill again and in the large fan emphasis on Ginny's 
crush.  And really it isn't just the uber fans.  Afterall shipping 
has been a major theme in every interview I've seen.  I can't imagine 
people on the edge of their seats asking that for the Narnia series 
or Lemony Snicket's SUE.  I couldn't care less is Violet gets a 
boyfriend.  I think that it shows where the strengths of the HP 
series is.  In personal relationship of friends and family rather 
than the tumultous battle between good and evil.  

I frankly am more interested in Harry's battle with Snape than his 
destiny with Voldemort.

It is possible that JKR will end up not writing to her strengths. 

I feel the moralizing in HP already.  He's filled with love?  What is 
that?  Is it like Dollman from The Tick - "I'm filled with tinier 
men!" Is he going to unleash this love on Voldemort through kisses?  
Is Harry filled with candied harts?  I'm just not feeling it to my 
bones.  There's no form.

Though I liked the moral attitude thus far - it has been very simple 
almost prosaic.  Moral uprightness about Harry.  everyone complained 
he was too much of a boy scout.  I like boy scout ethics and really 
that ideal produces a pleasant young man who will grow to be a 
pleasant adult, growing pains aside I don't think Harry was really 
tortured.  Eberhard was right - he's snotty rather than dark. Parly 
that is why I found it so punishing for 766 pages.  That is really 
unnecessary to get snottiness across and just darn painful to read.

The HP ethic was like the beaver oath.  I promise to do my best and 
help my family and friends.  Good, simple, honourable, widely 
applicable and sunny.  But hardly the stuff of a battle with the 
devil and redmption through God's messanger. Good books don't have to 
have deep meanings but I do agree Rowling is heading in that. 

And I challange anyone to discount the obvious plotting of a Christ 
theme.... 

So is deeper themes a good or a bad thing in this series?

Golly