[HPforGrownups] Re: Dumbledore and Favoritism in CoS

[Catherine Coleman]

No: HPFGUIDX 51395

In message <b1h0vh+bvd6 at eGroups.com>, "Tom Wall <thomasmwall at yahoo.com>" 
<thomasmwall at yahoo.com> writes
>Look, this brings me to a larger point: as a reader, I too can find a
>million and one reasons why HHR are brave, loyal, independent,
>selfless, civic-minded heroes who are deserving of every House Cup,
>every Quidditch Cup, and every award Hogwarts can offer, plus the
>Order of Merlin First Class to boot. That's *easy.* Anyone with
>a copy of the books could do this without any independent thought
>whatsoever, because that's precisely what we're *supposed* to be
>thinking.
>In other words, defending Harry is not a difficult task, since JKR
>has already made the case more eloquently than any of us could:
>because she deliberately wrote the books from that exact perspective.
>

Hmm, not quite sure I agree with you on this.  Yes, the perspective is 
obviously slanted towards HRH and there is a narrative bias against the 
Slytherins and anyone else Harry doesn't particularly like - and I also 
think that JKR expects us to love Harry, because she does so herself. 
But I also don't think that JKR writes in such a black and white way as 
you imply, particularly with regard to the characters who are generally 
perceived to be "good".  I can't actually think of one "good" character 
who is portrayed in such a whiter-than-white, cardboard cutout way to 
the extent that everyone without exception would find nothing bad to say 
about them.

I would definitely include the trio in this -  I think we get a warts 
and all impression of all three of them.  We are certainly aware of all 
their personality defects;  and there are scenes when all three of them 
don't appear in such a brilliant light.   I think these give a pretty 
balanced view of them all, *especially* Harry, as we are more privy to 
his thoughts than the others.

So if they are portrayed in this way, and we can all see good and bad in 
them, why shouldn't we discuss it?  As you can see, there are people 
around who don't share my views, just as there are those who don't share 
yours.  And I don't think that it's fair to say that taking the less 
obvious view is in some way more challenging and therefore superior to 
the common perception, as I would argue that there is no such thing.

In my previous post, I was trying to defend Harry against very specific 
charges which I didn't agree with.  I don't think he is particularly 
self-centred, or thoughtless, or nosey, and I want to be able to say 
why, without being told that it is a waste of time and boring (no matter 
how nicely).  I personally don't think it is a waste of time, because 
even if, as you suggest we are "supposed to be thinking" that HHR are 
whiter than white (which I obviously dispute), the fact that is that 
everyone has much more complicated opinions about them than that.  If 
you'll notice, much as I love him, I wasn't saying that Harry was 
perfect, and I obviously don't believe it (as I have already said). 
There are times when he drives me nuts, just like everyone else does - 
but I agree with Marina - don't you think we'd hate him if he was 
perfect?

Again, I'm sorry that you think this perspective is "boring", but I 
refuse to sit on my thumbs and not respond while a character I am very 
fond of is attacked.

And, to be perfectly honest, a character discussion which centres upon 
Harry comes up so rarely that I have to jump in when I can.  :-)

Catherine