House points and Dumbledore

[Steve <bboy_mn@yahoo.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 51141

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "ssk7882 <skelkins at a...>"
<skelkins at a...> wrote:
> Ah, the Ever So Contentious PS/SS Point Award!
> 
> Steve/Bboy (which do you prefer?) wrote a summary of the last-minute 
> points awarded to Gryffindor at the end of PS/SS, and then demanded:
> 
> > And people think Dumbledore was being overly generous? 
> 
> Er, no.  The problem that many people have cited in the past, at 
< any rate, with the infamous "Dissing the Slyths" scene is not their 
> feeling that the point award was unduly generous.  ...edited...
> 
> Rather, the objection is usually that the Trio and Neville earned 
> those points long in advance of the Leaving Feast.  :->
> -end this part-

bboy_mn:
First there really wasn't that much time; the went into the chambers,
Harry was in the hospital for three days, and the next day was the
Leaving Feast. It's entirely possible that Dumbledore had a few things
on his mind and a few things to do during that three days. For one, he
had to contact Nicholas Flamel, and convince him to die.

Also, in view of the magnitude of what they did Dumblefore may have
felt that he wanted to acknowledge their effort in front of the whole
school.

Having said that, a tactfull and sensitive Headmaster would have
awared the point the day Harry woke up, the day before the feast.

The next point is that, we must view this not from Slytherin's
perspective or Gryffindor's, but from the perspective of a reader. We
do not ask which method is politically correct, but which method
created the better read, the better story.

Clearly the sudden thrilling victory at the last minute, especially
combined with putting one over on Slytherin, made for a more thriling
story, and had the story end on a very happy satisfying note for H/R/H
and the whole Gryffindor house. 

So while I don't quite agree that the Slytherins were being 'Dis'd', I
do agree that from a proper headmaster perspective, awarding the
points in advance and then explaining them at the Leaving feast would
have been better approach. From the perspective of writing a fun
thriling story that encourages us to root for the hero and feel the
thrill of his victory, JKR got it right.
-bboy_mn-end this part-

> Elkins continues
> 
> Yes, but the point system is just completely <expleted deleted>
> anyway, isn't it?
> ...edited...
> 
> Elkins
> 
> who believes that it is the author's *choices,* not her intentions, 
> that make her works what they are

bboy_mn:
Well, I think I could explain the logic behind the Points and the
House system, and while I could explain it, I don't see how I could
ever justify it. The House system seems to be very promenent in
British schools, and I assume in schools in other European countries.
But it really does foster lifelong rivalries and hostilities that have
not logical basis other that 'HE' was in 'THAT' house.

I do get the point being made from a real world perspective, but from
I literary perspective, the last minute vitory snatch from your foes,
was the right choice for a thrilling happy end to the story.

Just a few thought.

bboy_mn