OOP: Communication Themes (SPOILERS)

[naamagatus]

No: HPFGUIDX 68012

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Robert Oliver" <boliver at w...> 
wrote:
> 
> Has anyone else noticed that the entire theme of OOP seems to be
> communication and the breakdown thereof?  Dumbledore fails to
> communicate with Harry in order to protect him, Harry fails to
> communicate with Sirius through a combination of treachery and 
Harry's
> own bad memory (the mirror present), Lupin promises to communicate
> with Snape about the Occulmency lessons but evidently doesn't, Snape
> and Harry have a general communication breakdown about the same
> Occulmency lessons, Dumbledore evidently doesn't communicate
> emphatically enough to Sirius the importance of treating Kreacher
> well, Harry refuses to communicate about his mistreatment at the 
hands
> of Umbridge to anyone, and of course the entire book is filled with
> the theme of trying to communicate the truth of Voldemort's return,
> and the danger of Voldemort's communication with Harry.
> 
> As I now think of it I have rarely seen a single theme so constantly
> replayed and re-emphasized in so many ways within the context of a
> single narrative.
> 

Yes. This theme is also expressed in the various technologies of 
communication which are shown in much greater detail than before: we 
get more details of the Floo network, we see how portkeys are made 
(and learn that they, also, are supervised), we see for the first 
time how portraits can be used as a means of communication, we learn 
of the two way mirrors, and, most importantly, we learn of the 
Legilimens spell. 

However, part of the book's claustrophobic atmosphere is generated by 
the fact that no means of communication we see is fail safe. The Floo 
network and portkeys are under direct Ministry supervision. Owl mail 
is tampered with. Even what should be a free media (the Daily 
Prophet) is shown to be susceptible to political pressure and 
corruption. The protagonists are reduced to illegaly using the means 
of communication at their disposal or creating new, subversive ones 
(such as Hermione's fake galleons). 

I find it amazing how menacing she made the Umbridge regime. It's 
such an important lesson to teach children who live in democratic 
societies - that the freedoms they take as a given are vulnerable to 
erosion from within the system. Constant Vigilance!



Naama