[HPforGrownups] Re: Hurt/Comfort Rankings (Contains The Odd TBAY Reference)

[Eileen]

No: HPFGUIDX 57163

 --- "Cindy C." <cindysphynx at comcast.net> wrote: > 
> Look, Harry had lots of emotional pain before the
> graveyard scene.  
> But as The Elkins herself once said, it was the
> graveyard scene 
> where Harry has all of that physical pain when the
> female readers 
> rushed to his side.  

I think Hurt Comfort is probably different for younger
readers, actually. I know that when I was little I
wrote Hurt Comfort exemplary stories based on physical
pain, whereas emotional pain became important for me
as I grew older. (And I can remember the exact moment
I switched over too. It was reading 'Treasure Island'
for the millionth time, and out of the blue developing
a massive hurt-comfort crush on Jim Hawkins when he
falls into Silver's hands the second time, and feels
so awful about the way he's being used against his
friends.) 

So, to capture the Harryfans' hearts, physical pain is
needed, whereas the Snapefans will go for emotional
pain, as demonstrated in "The Egg and the Eye." Though
I'm sure they'd enjoy a spell of Snape being
Crucio'ed. 

> And yes, lying on the Azkaban cold stone
> floor with other 
> prisoners making so much darn noise that you can't
> sleep at night 
> counts as physical pain in my book.

We've forgotten an obvious candidate for
Hurt/Comfortdom. 

Barty Crouch Jr. He's got it all. Physical pain,
guilt, messed up and repressed emotions. And unlike
other candidates, he knows the meaning of personal
hygiene. And he's got blond hair and freckles!
Probably quite cute, don't you think? And, if you want
edge, he's got it!

<Cindy argues that Crouch Sr. wasn't redeemed>

I don't even have to argue with you anymore. Elkins
said it was obviously a redemption scene. So there!

As for your specific arguments, I refuted them a long
time ago, and you never answered. Let me remind you
once again

1) Crouch didn't know Harry was Harry.
2) When it comes to continuing one's life,
self-interest does not stand in the way of redemption.
3) JKR probably thinks telling Dumbledore alone is the
best policy, anyway. 

>Doesn't the redemption have to be, er, consumated 
>to count?

I don't think so. Theologically speaking, anyway. But
it definitely doesn't have to when it comes to
hurt-comfort. In fact, the hurt-comforter may be even
more touched by the incomplete redemption.

> Cindy -- looking for a way to get Fudge on the list,
> but coming up 
> empty

If you'll give up your ridiculous physical pain
requirement, the answer is in PoA, where Fudge
describes the horror of cleaning up after Pettigrew
and Black. He'll never forget it. Scarred forever.
Don't you want to comfort him, Cindy?

Eileen

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