Understanding characters, was Harry's sexual preference

[evangelina839]

No: HPFGUIDX 78824

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Jim Ferer" <jferer at y...> wrote:
> You're missing out on a lot if those details don't matter.  These
> stories are as much about Harry growing up as they are about the plot,
> so the development of Harry and his friends as people is important to
> us and the storyline.  It's a big part of the richness of JKR's
> creation.  I want to know how Ginny is growing up, and whether she and
> Harry might find each other someday. 
> 
<snip>
> 
> So I disagree with any proposition that the personalities and
> identities of the characters don't matter.  In the Potterverse,
> everything matters.
> 
> Jim Ferer

But I've heard a lot of people argue that a gay relationship does nothing for the 
storyline, and when you explain the importance of relationships in general like this, I 
really start to wonder what kind of storyline we are talking about here. If it's 
important to understand the characters - and I agree with you that it very much is - 
then I still don't see why it would be out of place to have someone gay among them. 
And if a gay relationship does nothing for the story - well, then a straight one doesn't 
do much either. Maybe the point is this quote of yours: "I use my impressions of the 
characters to predict how they will behave in the future" - to label someone as gay 
might not have much to do with the way they will behave. But I still don't see a 
problem. (of course not you say) JKR's characters are not affected by many, if any, of 
the ordinary muggle prejudices. (I've read some great posts on this matter.) They 
seem generally equal when it comes to gender, color, religion and so on. Even though 
sexuality might be out of place for a children's book, a few gay characters just 
participating in the dating game wouldn't be that bad, IMO.
I realise, of course, that I can't demand everyone to agree with me. Some people 
surely would be appalled just by reading implied homosexuality. But still... I mean, 
really, what if JKR decided to consider the racists and not add any black people to her 
books? In my opinion, that's the same kind of prejudice.
I hope you understand my point, after all this rambling it still feels like I'm forgetting 
something vital.

evangelina
heart still there