[HPforGrownups] Time Travel Paradoces

[Lissa B]

No: HPFGUIDX 57721

Mycropht wrote:
> I'm new but have lurked for awhile.  I certainly don't mean to step on
> anyone's toes, but it seems to me that there are a large number of theories
> regarding the resolution of this story which involve time travel.

Lissa replied:
Hi Mycropht.  I assume you're alluding, at least in part, to my
(admittedly) ludicrous theory regarding Ginny and Harry being Tom M.
Riddle's parents.  (grin)  *Please* don't think you're bruising my
toes.  If anyone had suggested this same theory to me last June, I would
have rolled my eyes and laughed myself silly.

Mycropht wrote:
> [JKR] uses best-loved elements of myth, folklore, mystery
> plays, modern romance and Tolkien.   I think that she has used time travel
> as one device in one book.  She's been such a clever story teller for so
> long that I don't see her returning to that particular Deux Ex Machina to
> "solve" her overall story.  At least I hope not.  I've already been cruelly
> duped by George Lucas and his The Universe Is One Big Happy Family B.S.  I'd
> like for the HP universe to be something more than Hagrid travelling back in
> time to hatch V from a dragon's egg as a pet for Salazar Slytherin.

Lissa replied:
Oh goodness.  (nervous smile)  I am a bit uncomfortable answering this
section of your message because I don't feel it's my right to try to
justify or defend someone else's (possible) professional creative
choices, but I think I'm going to have to do it anyway. 

So here goes nothing. (crosses fingers, laughs weakly then takes a deep
breath)

I believe JKR *is* a clever storyteller who draws on rich fictional
traditions, respects her main characters, and does not intend to cheat
her readers.  I don't believe the time turner in PoA is a Deux Ex
Machina.  Several times in PoA Rowling makes it fairly clear Hermione is
in two places at once.  Short of an italicized "Hey guys! Look here!"
and a helpful arrow pointing toward the passages in question, I don't
think Rowling could have taken more care to imply time travel--or
something quite like it--was occurring.  Given that the novels are set
in a magical universe, the overt introduction of time-travel at the end
of the novel was not "forced and improbable".  (I'm referencing M. H.
Abrams definition of Deux Ex Machina from _A Glossary of Literary Terms_
here, but other definitions are readily available online.)

I also believe that in the hands of a careful writer, time-travel can be
used in a dignified way as part of an overall plot.  I can understand if
you disagree with that opinion.  In my own view, time travel is often
poorly handled and typically *does* constitute a Deux Ex Machina.  I
would probably not use it in my own serious writing.  I would not,
however, condemn someone else who used it as carefully as JKR appears to
be in the Potter novels.

In my opinion, Rowling is a skilled writer who has given her readers
ample warning that the Potterverse includes time travel.  It would be
unfair and inaccurate, should my theory prove correct, to say that JKR
wrapped up her series with a Deux Ex Machina plot device.

This isn't the forum for me to defend or critique George Lucas, so I'm
not going to do it.  I *am* going to point out that revelations of
unexpected parental identity are a proud tradition in literature.  From
Sophocles to Charles Dickens to Oscar Wilde, writers have explored this
plot twist.  It is not, in my opinion, an inherently cheesy gimmick.

Nonetheless, the one thing that gives me pause about my theory is its
parallels with Star Wars.  With the memory of Vader's revelation so
fresh in most people's minds, it is a risky plot choice to make.

I also freely admit that my theory might be utter nonsense.  None of
this post should be taken as a defense of my silly hypothesis.  (If it
had been, I'd have addressed the likelihood of Rowling introducing time
travel in her novels then using it only for purposes that don't
necessitate time travel in the least...)  But in case she *does* go this
direction, I wanted to state for the record that I believe she has
handled the Potter series--and time travel and surprise paternity--in a
careful manner that respects readers and violates no reasonable laws of
creative style.

Oh Mycropht, if you only knew how much moral resolve it took for me not
to mention my opinion of Star Wars in this post... (breaks down into
hysterical laughter from the strain)

One last thing.  Loved the acronym. :)

Respectfully,
Lissa