A Look At Luna Lovegood (longish)

[Granny Goodwitch]

No: HPFGUIDX 84219

6November2003 
Dan wrote:
Why is everyone afraid of Luna?
 
Granny responds:
Not one bit!  She's a breath of fresh air in OP as well as on the list.
 
Dan:
That the series is a kid's book series is no longer an issue. 
This must be of some relief to JKR, I would imagine. And also, 
liberating, in the subjects with which she can deal in the series. 
 
Granny:
I'm not so sure about this.  Haven't you ever reread a book that you'd read as a child and wondered how on earth you'd ever understood it?  This is one of the marks of good literature--that one can reread it and still find a dimension that he'd previously missed, but still have enjoyed the story in his younger years.  I can't help but imagine that a 15 year old who'd read Book 1 some years ago wouldn't see some very different issues today.
 
Dan:
I wonder if the alchemical interpretations of Hans, on one hand, and 
Grainger on the other are familiar to you. If analytical approaches 
like that to the book are germane, than aren't my more rhetorically 
based speculations also valid?
 
Granny:
Sorry Dan, I'm not yet familiar with Hans or Grainger yet.  Must look them up.

Dan:
...Why was Luna introduced?
 
Granny:
IMHO, Luna was introduced into the series at this late date because she must serve as a "pivot" in the story.  Harry has come a long way since we first met him at the age of 11 some years ago.  He's no longer a little boy, as the centaur in the Forest said about him, "This one's approaching manhood".  Harry's world is no longer just about learning spells, charms and how to be a wizard.  He must also learn to deal with life, and Luna's spaced-out character, but spring-to-action personility with no panic is just what Harry needs at this point. 
 
Dan:
Why was she given the moment at the end of OOP with Potter?
 
Granny:
Good question.  I'm still puzzled about this.  (Looking for her thingas that other students had hidden, right?)  I came up with a couple of ideas. (1)  Maybe this was just another example of Luna's ability to take it all in stride and keep on keeping on with a clear (RW?) head in spite of the fact that others are laughing at her--a lesson that Harry could well learn OR (2) This is a foreshadowing to later events.  Notice that we are not told exactly what was taken and how Luna always goes about finding them.
 
 
Dan:
But my point is more towards ... the fact of the chapter to herself, ...
 
Granny:
You've probably hit the nail right on the head here, Dan: "But of course JKR has some essential role for Lovegood."  Luna's a hard one to put a finger on.  So far, she only reacts to others, doesn't really initiate any action.  But, when the situation called for spontaneous action, she reacted with a real sense of urgency.  There's a lot of depth to this lady, so JKR gave her an entire chapter.  Let's face it, how much does she say?
 
Dan:
... Right now, that role is as another, alternate, more clearly emotional/spiritual, if you will, path to the 
Potter behind the scar. ...
 
Granny:
OK, but in addition, to serving as an emotional/spiritual path, I'd go so far as to say that Luna will function as a synthesizer for the Potter behind the scar-ie, synthesis of emotional with the heroic, rational Potter.
 
Granny Goodwitch



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