Ginny's invisibility (was :time to defend Ginny! )

[David <dfrankiswork@netscape.net>]

No: HPFGUIDX 52423

Pippin:
> > <<<<As for Ginny knowing Harry beyond the superficial, how can 
> she? 
> > He's never given her the chance. We're privy to his inmost 
> > thoughts, she's not.>>>>>>>>>
> 
Penny:

> > Don't you mean that *Rowling* hasn't given her the chance?  <eg>

Me (David):

 <<<I have to say I see it as Harry, myself.  It is one of the few 
ways that he irritates me as a character, how he manages to keep 
Ginny at a distance.  Her approach to him is not that of Colin 
Creevey (more on that below) and while he doesn't treat her with the 
brusqueness reserved for Colin, he does IMO shut her out.  He 
acquiesces in Ron's dismissal in POA and apparently does nothing to 
respond to her 
> overtures such as the get-well card.>>>>>>>>>

Penny again:

> But, Harry is acting under Rowling's pen (or keyboard).  I'm not 
sure what you're getting at David - though I definitely agree that 
Harry keeps Ginny at a distance, very definitely.

Not much time so I'll try a brief explanation.

I think the starting point is that the series is a bildungsroman, so 
Harry is developing.  As part of that, JKR is bringing in themes 
that tie in with Harry's increasing awareness and maturity.  One of 
those themes that has received very little exposure is the nature of 
feminity and the role of the feminine in life.  In Harry's thoughts 
that is shown by his lack of interest in Ginny and his mother.  
Various models of femininity are present but they are all IMO 
undeveloped: McGonagall (stern schoolmarm); Lily (mother); Pensieve 
woman (femme fatale?); Petunia (harridan); Grubbly-Plank 
(masculinised femininity (not nec. lesbian IMO)).  I think some of 
the past debates here about Hermione's (supposed lack of) femininity 
reflect the partiality of the POV character, too.

I think JKR chooses to use Harry's lack of interest as the means to 
keep this theme in the background.

I believe it to be deliberate because Lily is such a glaring hole in 
the narrative.  There are other minor indications: Dumbledore's 
remark that Maxime is an able headmistress and an excellent dancer 
is one.  (A subtle counterpoint to Dudley too, IMO.)

Thus I think there are indications that Ginny is being 'kept back', 
as are many of the above characters for thematic purposes.  By using 
Harry as the mechanism, JKR reaps the additional payoff that this 
(and other) theme comes into reader focus in sequence with Harry's 
own development.

David