HPforgrownups Re: What do you like best about the HP books?

[lorien_eve]

No: HPFGUIDX 72648

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "kiricat2001" <Zarleycat at a...> 
wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "ellejir" <eberte at v...> 
wrote:
> > --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Marianne wrote (in a much 
> > longer and interesting post):
> > 
> > "A lot of people think that none of the Slytherins are more than 
> two-
> > dimensional, and that Draco has not progressed at all as a 
> character 
> > over the last several books.  I personally have a real problem 
with 
> > how Sirius' characterization has changed from GoF to OoP. 
> > And, there is the question of how JKR seems to think she has 
> written  
> > characters, judging by what she says in interviews, with how 
> readers 
> > perceive the same characters.  <snip> 
> > Well, are those readers missing the point, or has JKR not 
written 
> > those characters well enough to make people see them the way she 
> > purportedly does?
> > I'd give JKR no more than a C+ or B- for characterization."
> > 
> > Me:
> > Whoa! You *sure* are a tough grader!  I would give her *much* 
> higher 
> > marks for her characterization. 

Now me, Lorien_Eve:
I'd give her much higher marks, too. I didn't have a problem at all 
with Siruis' change from GoF to OOtP. I think, considering the 
circumstances, his attitude was warrented. Of course, I was a big 
Sirius fan, so maybe I was just glad to see more of him in this 
book. I also think the other characters were done very well. I 
really enjoyed Luna, and considering this was her first appearance, 
I think her characterization was point-on. Same with Mundungus 
Fletcher.
> 
> Yes, I'm tough, but I've also had a bad day at work, so I'm more 
than 
> usually cranky.
> 
>  Yes, the Slytherins are one-
> > dimensional, but they are merely supporting players in the 
drama, 
> > and, as has been pointed out by others, we are viewing them 
through 
> > Harry's eyes.  For every one-note character like Crabbe and 
Goyle 
> we 
> > have two or three Gryffindors with distinct personality traits--
> think 
> > Neville, Seamus, Fred and George (OK--the latter two are like 
one.)
> I must confess that I happen to *like* the unrelenting nastiness 
of 
> > Draco, and I hope that he never changes.  (Not every evil 
character 
> > has to evolve into a good one.)
> 
> I'll give you the Gryffs. And, yes, I think the development of 
> Neville was a high point of OoP. But, Draco has become a 
caricature. 
> Nasty is fine, but unrelented nasty with no deepening, no shading, 
no 
> change is simply dull.  He hasn't become worse or a more developed 
> picture of evil; he's remained static. And, no, I don't want him 
to 
> join the choir of the angels, although at this point any movement 
at 
> all towards good or evil would help.  

Me again, Lorien_Eve:
I agree with Draco. I think his character has a lot of potiential, 
but for some reason hasn't been developed as well as it should have 
been. If he's going to be redeemed, fine. If he's going to be evil, 
fine. But he really does need more depth. Because Harry always has 
the last word when it comes to their relationship, you'd think Draco 
would either give up taunting him by now, or try something more 
drastic.
> 
> > As for JKR's stated interpretation of a character being 
different 
> > from some reader's perception of that character, this may be an 
> > example of how rich her characterization actually is rather than 
a 
> > point for criticism.  I think it is fascinating that there are 
so 
> > many Snape and/or Percy-lovers out there, when Harry (the lens 
> > through which we view the story) hates them both.
> >  
> > Elle   (No Umbridge-lovers out there though, are there??  There 
> is    
> > some unambiguous characterization for you!)
> 
> I bet there are some frog fans or some kittens-on-a-plate fans who 
> think Umbridge is simply misunderstood. Perhaps she was bullied as 
a 
> young girl...
> 
> Marianne

I really *hope* there aren't any Umbridge fans out there! Sure, 
Snape's definitely been nasty to Harry, but he has never tried to 
*physically* harm him. He even saved his life in PS. And then 
there's that whole thing with Umbridge going to use the Cruciatus 
Curse on Harry. With the exception of Voldemort and the DEs, no 
one's been that mean to Harry.

Lorien_Eve