[HPforGrownups] Reader Interpretation of Characters (Was What do you like best about the HP books?)

[Irene Mikhlin]

No: HPFGUIDX 73350



Wendy St John wrote:

 > We're reading the same text, the same clues, the same
> adjectives, everything, and yet the reader response is so different. I
> think ultimately it is not a *fault* of JKR's writing, but a *strength*. I
> think her characterisations are brilliant, so brilliant that it is hard to
> put many of her characters in a box - good or evil, mean or nice; smart or
> stupid. Hmnh. Sounds suspiciously like people in the real world! <G> I
> think part of the fun is that we aren't told how to respond to the
> characters. They are a wonderful mix of strengths and faults, and we each
> respond to these things based on our own experiences.

That's exactly why I think she writes strong characters - we differ in 
our reactions to them just as we would in our reactions to the real life 
people.
Take Sirius as an example - he is a spontaneous guy. Many people find 
this characteristic desirable (just have a look at personals page :-).
Now I, in real life, can't stand spontaneous people. Poor Sirius didn't 
have any chance with me, even before the whole business of Snape, pranks 
and bullying came up. Is it JKR's fault, because she obviously wants her 
readers to like Sirius? I don't think so.


Irene