Psychoanalysis of CoS (long)

[a_reader2003]

No: HPFGUIDX 83512

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "jwcpgh" <jwcpgh at y...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "olivierfouquet2000" 
> <olivier.fouquet+harry at m...> wrote:
> <snip>> 
> > My point is that a major theme of CoS is sexuality, more 
precisely 
> the anxious feelings children are experiencing when they first 
> encounter sexuality, before being mature enough. > 
> Laura:
> 
> What a fun post!  Well done, Olivier.  I just wanted to add that at 
> Nimbus thee was a rather startling presentation (I can't remember 
> the name of the woman who gave it, I'm afraid) on this very 
> subject.  The presenter suggested that tCoS is indeed a metaphor 
for 
> awakening adolescence.  In addition to some of the ideas you've put 
> forth, she talked about the symbolism of the search for Ginny. 
Harry 
> has to enter a girls' bathroom, say special secret words  and find 
> the way to a hidden passageway (which is described as "an endless, 
> slimy, dark slide" CoS 301 US).  You get the idea.

Carolyn:

I have never been able to decide whether it is intentional sexual 
imagery, or just rather unfortunate phrasing when she describes them 
as climbing (sometimes with difficulty) in and out through the hole 
behind the Fat Lady portrait. Plus the several conversations (often 
involving Ron) where the portrait says things like 'so I'll just hang 
here, wide open then, shall I ?' when they climb out and run off on 
one of their exploits. And then there are all those broomsticks, 
ridden by both boys and girls, and it is the most popular wizard 
sport, after all. Sorry, didn't want to lower the tone by mentioning 
all this before !