[HPforGrownups] Re: Book Review: The Ivory Tower and Harry Potter (long)

[Penny Linsenmayer]

No: HPFGUIDX 49050

Hi all --

> 8. "Crowning the King: Harry Potter and the Construction of
> Authority" by Farah Mendlesohn - <snip> She paints Harry as a 
> passive hero  who is successful largely due to "inherited" talents 
> and assistance from others, a "gentleman scholar" (a star on the 
> playing field and passably bright).  She argues that the Sorting 
> Hat reinforces the destinarian nature of elitist Hogwarts and is 
> not at all about personal choices.

Phyllis commented:

Oh, my.  She really has missed the boat, hasn't she!  She must have 
skipped over Dumbledore's "choices make us what we are" speech at the 
end of CoS.  How unfortunate.>>>>>>>>>>>

Well, it might be interesting to take a closer look at Mendlesohn's arguments (and if our IP lawyers say that I can, I'll post some lengthier excerpts from this particular piece so you'll all have a better understanding of exactly what she's asserting).  Her piece is definitely thought-provoking ----- though, as I said, IMHO, her arguments are undermined by relying on factual inaccuracies or making a clear interpretative error in some cases.  Obviously, that's just my opinion.  :--)

Penny's review again:

> 10. "Hermione Granger and the Heritage of Gender" by Eliza T.
> Dresang - <snip> Dresang concludes that Rowling's descriptive 
> adjectives and verbs often place Hermione at odds with her core 
> character (the whining and shrieking doesn't mesh at all with what 
> we the readers know about Hermione's strength).  

Phyllis again:

<<<<<<While Hermione does occasionally giggle somewhat out of character, I don't see that this detracts from her strengths.  It only happens 
occasionally, and it's a good reminder that she's still a teenage 
girl, despite how grown-up she usually acts.>>>>>>>>

Actually, Dresang uses a number of examples to show Hermione "shrieking," "squeaking," "whining," "whimpering," etc. -- all stereotypical behavior associated with women in general and young girls of Hermione's age in particular.  Dresang notes that some of these same descriptive verbs and adjectives are used with respect to McGonagall, so it can't all be dismissed as Hermione being a "normal" girl of her age.  We've discussed this before I think, but I would agree with Dresang that JKR has employed some rather troubling language with respect to all her female characters.  Dresang actually sees the "giggling" as being confined to Parvarti, Lavender and Ginny for the most part, and notes that Parvarti and Ginny have the most promise to be strong characters "underneath the giggles."  I hope this answers to some extent Susanne's question on this same point.  I don't think Dresang is arguing (and I'm certainly not) that Hermione should be without flaws .....or that we should criticize her for being flawed.  I think the point is more that we don't see any of the male characters "whimpering," or "shrieking," and it's this aspect of JKR's descriptive language that can be troubling.  It reinforces stereotypes.  And, as I said, Hermione doesn't seem like a "whiner."  I think Dresang makes the point that Hermione is above all a "coper," not a "whiner," and therefore, JKR's descriptive language and action verbs are sometimes at odds with what else we know about Hermione's character.  Does that clarify any?

Penny's review again:

> 14."Specters of Thatcherism: Contemporary British Culture in
> J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter Series," by Karin E. Westman 
> <snip> Westman argues that Rowling's "sharpest critique of racial
> prejudice and materialist politics appears through Ron Weasley."  

Phyllis again:

<<<<<While Ron does have the most violent (literally and figuratively!) 
reaction to Draco's use of the term "mud-blood" in CoS, I really see 
Hermione as championing the anti-prejudice movement with her S.P.E.W. 
campaign in GoF.  Of note is that Ron has no patience for Hermione's 
house-elf liberation front, and gladly exploits the house-elves for 
food from the kitchens.>>>>>>>>>

Oops -- I guess I wasn't terribly clear and didn't give enough context to that quote.  What Westman is saying is that Ron *is* prejudiced (and JKR is using Ron to highlight it as bigotry).  She notes his reaction to Lupin and obvious prejudice against werewolves in PoA and then argues that by GOF, we the readers know that his reaction to Lupin was not just an odd quirk .... his reaction to giants and the House Elves confirm this pattern.  I've argued this before, though without much success against the most vociferous Ron fans in our midst.  :--)  


Glad everyone is enjoying the review!  I plan to review some other books, including all the ones mentioned by Jim Ferer in his post to our Announcements list earlier tonight.  We are also hoping to take some of the arguments/statements made by various commentators and critics and use them as starting points for some "official" discussions in the coming New Year.  

Happy New Year to all (may we see OoP before 2004!) -- 

Penny

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