Tur-bans or Too-Much (was Re: Ask the Question)

[mschelleau]

No: HPFGUIDX 84591

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "justcarol67" 
<justcarol67 at y...> wrote:
> Inge wrote:
> <snip>
> > I think it might be quite fun to make a list of questions for
> [Rowling] . . . to find out the variaty of questions that 
> > each of you are dying to ask if you got the chance - knowing that 
> > she'd give you the answer.
> > 
> > It's not easy to pick just 1 question - but let me be the one to 
> > start by saying:
> > 
> > 1)  How is Peter Pettigrew going to repay his dept to Harry for 
> > saving his life?
> ><snip>

And Carol responded: 
> To begin with, I want to know what she meant by saying (in answer to
> why she made Quirrell rather than Snape the villain in SS/PS), "I 
> know all about Snape and he'd never put on a turban." (Huh? Does 
> that mean he'd never let another person manipulate his will by
> getting literally or figuratively inside his head? If not, what the
> heck does it mean?)

Well, the psychological implications of Quirrel's choice of headwear 
are interesting, especially given turbans were popular with the 
more 'mystical' set circa 19th century (AFAIK) such as mediums, and I 
do wonder if JKR had that in mind when devising the character of 
Quirrel who was a link (a medium if you will) between LV and life and 
death.

However, I think JKR's comment above was more a general humorous 
observation about Snape's aesthetic sensibilities in that Snape would 
most likely think a turban (a) served no useful function and (b) was 
self-indulgent posturing (harkening back to their use by mystics 
within a western context and not a comment on those cultures where 
such headwear has a different meaning). 

Now, if the turban was black and flowing .... naah - if he had to go 
for a head covering he'd go for a hooded cape (functional whilst 
still retaining a significant billowing quotient) 

Mschelle in Au