[HPforGrownups] Re: OotP: SPOLIERS : First impression & female characters

[Jesta Hijinx]

No: HPFGUIDX 65707

> > Another female character I always liked is Ginny Weasley, in whom I
>felt great potential, which is now finally displayed. There is one
>thing that really annoys me about the HP universe: the lack of female
>characters with a sense of humour. Ginny is the only one who actually
>laughs at the - sometimes silly or childish, but basically *funny* -
>jokes and antics of her brothers. Hermione only says things
>like: "oh, be serious, Ron", and "this is no laughing matter", or
>just hmphs indignantly. And don't even get me started on Molly
>Weasley!
> >
> > Ginny has the ability not to take things seriously. She also has
>the ability to downright lie to her mother (a craft none of her
>brothers seemed to have mastered) and to do her own thing without
>even attempting to justify her actions, if she thinks that's
>unneccessary. I love her!
> >
I also adore Ginny; she's living up to every bit of the potential I've 
always thought ws there.  Hurrah!  :-)
>
>I think that part of the reason the female characters are not as much
>given a sense of humor is, to me anyway, they seem to be more the
>strength the male characters will occasional fall back upon. Even
>Dumbledore puts trust in the strength of McGonagall to basically keep
>the school running whenever he is not there, just Ron and Harry put
>trust in the strength of Hermonie to always be there for them when
>they charge in blindly to situtations, and Mr. Weasley puts faith in
>his wife to basically keep the family humming as he loses himself in
>plugs and other Muggle objects. That at least is my take, the female
>characters are in many ways the hidden strength of their family and
>friends.
>
Hi there -

I have a slightly less positive spin on the "strength" of the female 
characters - yes, I agree it's there.  But I've long said that JKR is 
writing a much more traditional, old-fashioned world than our modern one 
(fresh notes there - Tonks and Kingsley Shacklebolt) - and in that world, 
males are supposed to be the reckless, adventurous ones and women the 
conservative, stabilizing influence, the hearth goddess - regardless of 
whether *they'd* like to be out adventuring themselves.  In a manner, the 
responsibility for the stability and good sense gets "delegated" to the 
women in this scenario - and that's what I've seen happening with JKR up 
until now to some degree.  I prefer for women to have the equal chance to be 
active, and for men to have the equal chance to be the stabilizing, 
nurturing home force.  In that regard, I was really glad to see Ginny evolve 
and to see Tonks introduced - refreshing, active characters.

Hurrah!  ;-)

Felinia

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