Austen and Why tiny, tiny Parallels DO Exist for R/H and/or H/G (was a large

[pippin_999 <foxmoth@qnet.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 52466

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "heiditandy 
<heidit at n...>" <heidit at n...> wrote:

>>> You really can't think of anything? You really don't think that 
 telling Harry, Hermione and Ron to get out of the way of the 
Death  Eaters was at least a considerate thing to do? Look at the 
action  and tell me what on earth was mean, nasty or horrible 
about it. <<

Well, let's see:
 

1) Calling Hermione a Mudblood
2) chuckling when people are screaming

I can think of lots of ways of warning people that *don't* sound 
like taunting them for their vulnerability. 

In any case the Hermione/ Draco Elizabeth/Darcy parallel suffers  
because there's no indication at all that Hermione has any inner 
conflict about Draco, or that Rowling has set one up for her.

Ron, I agree, is not much like Darcy at all, anymore than he's like 
Han Solo. But it's the *situation* that's universal--it's what 
happens when one person is drawn to another but conflicted 
about it. The inner  conflict is what produces the sparks. What 
it's about doesn't matter. 

"You stuck up, half-witted, scruffy looking nerf- herder!" --Lucas

"You--You're fraternizing with the enemy, that's what you're 
doing."--Rowling

" your arrogance, your conceit, and your selfish disdain of the
feelings and safety of others"--Austen

The poor wretch who's being excoriated has indeed behaved  
somewhat unworthily in each case, but not enough to merit such 
vehemence. That's how we know that there's an inner conflict 
involved. The anger and frustration really come from the 
speakers' inability to resolve the inner conflict, of which he/she 
may not even be aware. Once that's been taken care of, if it ever 
is, the issues between the couple may be resolved. 

By this interpretation, it's not Ron's issues with Hermione that 
produce his anger, but his issues with himself. He doesn't want 
to feel the way he does about her, so much so that he can't even 
admit those feelings, and still hasn't by the end of GoF. 

But the reader is made aware much sooner, in the Yule 
Brawl scene if not before. What gives some indication that 
Hermione might want to return those feelings is the fact that this 
time she doesn't break off with him, despite being thoroughly 
provoked.

In P&P Elizabeth isn't aware of  her conflicted feelings toward 
Darcy till much later in their relationship. But the conflict is 
indicated to the reader almost at once:

***
Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention of the room by his fine, tall 
person, handsome features, noble mien; and the report which 
was in general circulation within five minutes after his entrance, 
of his having ten thousand a year. The gentlemen pronounced 
him to be a fine figure of a man, the ladies declared he was 
much handsomer than Mr. Bingley, and he was looked at with 
great admiration for about half the evening, till his manners gave 
a disgust which turned the tide of his popularity; for he was 
discovered to be proud, to be above his company, and above 
being pleased; and not all his large estate in Derbyshire could 
then save him from having a most forbidding, disagreeable 
countenance, and being unworthy to be compared with his 
friend. --Pride and Prejudice ch. 3.
****

"Noble mien" indicates at once that there is something 
admirable about Mr. Darcy's character, despite the bad 
impression he makes with his manners. Are we given any 
similar indications about Draco? 

Pippin