Austen and why parallels do not exist for R/H and/or H/G (FF link, no text)

[Teri <dalesian@shaw.ca>]

No: HPFGUIDX 52484

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "heiditandy" <heidit at n...> 
wrote:
> Shauna posted a creative paralleling-argument regarding Pride &
> Prejudice and the HP SHIPs and Lilac replied: 
> 
> 
> > I've heard some people compare Darcy and Elizabeth to R/H 
> > because of the tension and what R/H's call witty banter 
> > (others call hurtful bickering) or D/H because of the pride 
> > and prejudice of Darcy/Draco (although I personally don't see 
> > D/H happening, imo, but I could be wrong...).
> Then added... 
> 
> > But I like to believe that JKR is going to pull a "Darcy" 
> > with R/H and a "Knightly" with H/G. 
> 
> As a P&P fan, I cannot see any similarities between Ron and Darcy - 
none
> whatsoever. 

I'm largely going to cut most of this post to say that I actually 
agree with Heidi on this one.  I don't see any parallels between 
Darcy and Ron other than superficial ones.  Along with Heidi, I see 
more of Darcy in Draco than in any other character in the Harry 
Potter series and even for me that's pushing it, but the similarities 
there are more striking than in Ron and Darcy.

> But in terms of characterisation, Draco's is so much closer to 
Darcy's
> than Ron is that it makes me feel that to compare any character 
other
> than Draco to Darcy is simply superficial... 

I guess it is very safe to say that I've already said I agree with 
this.

> In other words, there's three books left. There are at least 2 and a
> half books in which Draco has the opportunity to face some demons, 
fight
> some battles, and see for himself if he wants to capitulate and 
become a
> wothless fingerpuppet of evil, or if he wants to, even for 
completely
> selfish reasons, choose otherwise. 

I've been maintaining for some time now if Draco decides to join with 
the "good" forces, it will be for reasons of enlightened self-
interest.

> And as part of that choice-making
> process, I hope he takes a look at his prejudices, the way we've 
sort of
> seen Ron doing (at least re: Hagrid and Giants) and 
> grows beyond them the way Mr Draco, I mean Mr Darcy did... (spelling
> mistake left intentionally). 

I would like to see this kind of evolution for the character too.  
Even if he does do the enlightened self interest thing, then I hope 
at least he can learn to overcome his prejudices...or at least 
realise his father isn't the authority he seems to think he is.  
Usually my thoughts regarding Draco's "my father says..." is "Draco, 
don't you have an original thought in your head?"  But that's a 
whole 'nother post.
 
> If anyone is curious to see my take on the characterisations of 
various
> HP characters, were they in Jane Austen's world, they can take a 
peek at
> my Homages, on The Astronomy Tower (part of FictionAlley.org)

You know, it's funny that this keeps coming up.  Personally, I never 
considered Austen's work much until it popped up here.  My experience 
has much more to do with epic literature and can see a lot of 
parallels between the characters in HP and many epic and legendary 
stories.  I did a paper on epic heroes and their closest companions 
using the Epic of Gilgamesh, The Iliad and The Tain, and I can 
actually apply what I learned in that study to Harry and Ron, or even 
Harry and Hermione (but Ron is a much better example to be honest).  
I can also see parallels between HP characters and some of Dickens' 
works.  I had one friend of mine tell me he saw many comparisons 
between the Harry Potter series and Dahl's works, which I thought was 
very interesting.  

I like that folks are paying attention in this regard, but this also 
is a clue to me at how well read JKR is and how she uses what she 
knows, what she's read and her own imagination to create such a 
compelling story and group of characters.  

Well, erm...that's my two cents.

Teri