The names in the Goblet (Was: DD: an appreciation)

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 96820

> Neri:
> I vaugly remember JKR saying in some interview that we can trust 
DD 
> and Hermione to tell us the truth. I'll be grateful if someone can 
> come up with the exact citation.
> 
> (I guess Kneasy's response would be:
> "*Gasp* Trust JKR? You must be joking!")
> 
> I think Hermione is there to give us factual information from 
books 
> and teachers, of the "no apparating in Hogwarts" kind, While DD is 
> there to give us facts, but also the themes of the story, of 
the "it 
> is our choices, not our abilities" kind. I have no doubt that DD 
> still keeps much hidden in his sleeves, but what he does tell us I 
> think we can trust, not only in regard to mere details but also 
the 
> spirit of the words.


Jen: I don't know if this is the exact interview you were thinking 
of Neri, but this is from the COS DVD transcript with Steve Kloves & 
JKR:


Q: Hermione is a character that you have said is one of your 
favorites. Has that made her easier to write?

Steve Kloves: Yeah, I mean, I like writing all three, but I've 
always loved writing Hermione. Because, I just, one, she's a 
tremendous character for a lot of reasons for a writer, which also 
is she can carry exposition in a wonderful way because you just 
assume she read it in a book. If I need to tell the audience 
something -

JKR: Absolutely right, I find that all the time in the book, if you 
need to tell your readers something just put it in her. There are 
only two characters that you can put it convincingly into their 
dialogue. One is Hermione, the other is Dumbledore. In both cases 
you accept, it's plausible that they have, well Dumbledore knows 
pretty much everything anyway, but that Hermione has read it 
somewhere. So, she's handy.

Q: Does Dumbledore speak for you?
JKR: Oh yes, very much so. Dumbledore often speaks for me.


Jen again: So, it doesn't exactly say that Hermione & Dumbledore 
tell the *truth* all the time, but I infer from JKR's comment about 
Dumbledore that he comes the closest to telling us JKR's view of the 
WW.

Personally, I think Hermione & Dumbledore tell the truth *as they 
see it* which leaves the possibility open for them to be wrong at 
times. Like Dumbledore's interpretation of the Prophecy. He might be 
interpreting it wrong, but I have no doubts he truly believes he is 
steering Harry in the right direction.