OOP: Re: Book Six

[sueeeyqbong]

No: HPFGUIDX 65962

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "idlerat" <idlerat at y...> wrote:
> "peterhbrine" <peterhbrine at y...> wrote:
> > > Where does the plot go from here?  My vote is Book 6 will be 
> > > dedicated to brining non-human magical creatures to the anti-
> > > Voldmort side.  House Elves, Goblins, Centaurs, Giants and
> Merpeople will 
> > > major characters and Harry's showdown with Voldmort will result 
in 
> > > Voldmort being unable to keep these groups from uniting against 
> > > him.
> > > Expect to see a strong fight in the Ministry (and Hogwarts) 
over 
> > > anti and pro-S.P.E.W. legislation.
> 
> then "sueeeyqbong" <sue at s...> wrote:
> 
> > 
> > I definitely think 
> > that the non-human magical creatures will feature strongly in 
book 
> > 6. I reckon, though, that they will actually be more tempted 
towards 
> > Voldemort's side, because throughout OoP, there are constant 
> > reminders of how wizards and witches have abused their non-human 
> > peers.
>  
> SNIP SNIP
> >  Anyone agree?
> 
> me (idlerat):
> I do agree--sort of! (great citations by the way).  I agree that we
> are being given every indication that these creatures have been
> ill-used and have resentments, and that some of them will be tricked
> by LV (even though he's just as much a wizard, and worse).  
However, I
> think that the HP series will have a happy ending (lol-don't think 
I'm
> going out on a limb here) and that, to me, means not only that LV 
will
> be defeated but that there will be some (modest) progress on the
> 'social justice' issues that JKR has foregrounded.  I am surprised 
at
> how many people on the list think that we are supposed to disdain
> Hermione's efforts on behalf of the house elves, though she goes 
about
> it rather ham-fistedly; after all, she is JKR's alter.  
> 
> Anyway, I get the feeling that the giants are doomed, a dying 
species,
> but that the elves, with Dobby in the lead, have a future as a free
> species.  Obviously that can't happen overnight; for it to happen at
> all, two things need to occur: the house-elves must realize there 
is a
> limit to the satisfactions of slavery (as Dobby learned under the
> Malfoys and as he indicates many elves learned during LV's last
> ascendency).  That's thing one.  Thing two: the WW needs to learn 
the
> cost of their own arrogance and the extent of their reliance on
> creatures whom they subjugate.  Meaning? that the liberation of the
> HEs must somehow be a vital element of the war effort.  Like, all 
the
> oppressed DE family elves are somehow given socks and then betray
> their masters, and once some of them are free it becomes the height 
of
> hypocrisy not to free the rest.  I don't think it'll be thorough 
but I
> think we'll see the first glimmers of elf-emancipation, and that it
> will be a result of the war (like the desegregation of the US armed
> forces in WWII).
> 
> I think it was very important that, contrary to all expectations,
> Hagrid's efforts with Grawp did have some success.  I think that's a
> clue that what seems immutable can actually change given sufficient
> compassion.  But the giants are clearly tragic figures.
> 
> Oh, centaurs; except for Firenze, I can't see them helping either
> side.  After all, LV and the DEs (tra la la) are wizards and witches
> also.  Bit of a eco-fable, dontcha think? (human arrogance, other
> species)? & colonialism...
> 
> cheers
> idlerat
> badge-sporting SPEW member since 2001
> "it's fun to have fun but you have to know how"

Me : (sueeeyqbong)
Yes, I like what you say here. Having read  you post, Idlerat, I 
think I'd like to revise my initial thoughts and predict that the 
relationship between human and non-human creatures will be a major 
theme in books 6 and 7, alongside themes of retribution and 
attonement for wizarding wrongs. I think that some non humans will 
join Voldemort and some will join Dumbledore, which will cause 
disunity between previously united families and friends - thus 
echoing Dumbledore's close of term speech at the end of GoF - 
something like 'we are only strong if we're united...Voldemort's 
ability to sow seeds of discord is great'...but that ultimately, 
there will be a positive end to this conflict, with people looking 
ahead to times of peace and unity, with the wizarding world having 
learnt some hard lessons about how to treat their peers. Thoughts?