Why were the sacrifices different? (was: A moral theory of Magic )

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 95347

Kneasy:
>>>And I agree with you - plot lines in fiction may require the 
male to make the ultimate (and quite often pointless) sacrifice. 
It's very nearly a cliche; in fact if they *don't* they're 
considered to have failed and possibly to have acted in a cowardly 
manner. Hardly fair; they've got pensions to look forward to and 
then some author shoves them out the door to pitch face-forward in 
the dust at the feet of some arch-villain. To add insult to injury, 
it's the wife and kids that get all the sympathy when it wasn't them 
that did the dying.
There ain't no justice.<<<

djrfdh: 
> Except, Lily also died, and she is clearly not a man, so where's 
> your point? Some mothers die giving birth also to sons, are they 
> not, also making the supreme sacrifice?....dying so one may 
> live....and as far as sympathy, I don't think you can say that 
> Harry ever got any sympathy from his family....and the only one 
> who has ever given him any is Mrs. Weasley....yes, Hermione and 
> Ron, Dumbledore, Hagrid and even his teachers "feel" for him, but 
> even they haven't the capacity for a "mother's love". Aren't men 
> supposed to be the protectors? From the cave-men days, didn't they 
> do the hunting while the "little woman" stayed at home and swept-
> out the cave and had the kids? I  don't think it's in a man's 
> nature to nuture.

> djrfdh with just one woman's opinion.


Siriusly Snapey Susan:
I think you may have misread Kneasy a bit here.  He was reacting to 
my comments about my impression that JKR was stereotyping a bit--
downplaying the male sacrifice as simply expected of a man and 
playing up the mother's love sacrifice.  I think Kneasy was simply 
concurring that the idea that the male *of course* gives the 
ultimate sacrifice for his family is close to a literary cliche.  

And if I might gently add, I think saying "I don't think it's in a 
man's nature to nurture" is awfully stereotypical as well.  Clearly 
you've not met my husband. :-)

Siriusly Snapey Susan