The Hogwarts librarian

[meltowne]

No: HPFGUIDX 80644

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Matt" <hpfanmatt at g...> wrote:
> Well, I don't know, I've never thought that Madam Pince was 
portrayed
> as all that horrible, particularly given that we're seeing her 
through
> the eyes of a kid who spends next to no time in the library, and is
> usually breaking some rule or other when he *is* there.  Although I
> was just the opposite kind of child (along those two parameters), it
> is easy for me to see how Harry would be intimidated by Madam 
Pince.  
> 
> As for her hewing to stereotype, the same could be said of many of 
the
> books' more minor characters (I am thinking of Filch, Binns,
> Trelawney, Pomfrey, even McGonagall).  

That's exactly what I was thinking - these books are largely from 
Harry's point of view.  All of the characters are based on how Harry 
sees them, and what he understands of their jobs.  Until recently, 
Harry never bothered to wonder where all the food came from - so he 
never knew about all the house elves working in the kitchen.  Perhaps 
if the story was from Hermione's perspective, we might have a 
different view of Mrs Pince.  We assume that she works all those 
hours in the library, but we don't really know for sure - is the 
library available during all class hours?  Do the house elves help 
with some of the work?  even some of the students?

This is not a library like in the Muggle world - I doubt she has to 
do much of the behind-the-scenes work ordinary librarians do.  She is 
there to oversee the collection, and assist students as needed.

Melinda