Filch and other unsavory Characters

[Annette]

No: HPFGUIDX 111038

.
Steve writes:
 In years to come, and in all
> likelihood at this very moment, former Hogwart's students are 
raising
> a tankard of ale and laughing uproariously, as they exchange stories
> not of good times, but of horrendous encounters with Filch, Snape, 
and
> Peeves. These are the memories and life lessons that will endure far
> longer than facts and figures from Prof. Binn's lectures on the 
Giant
> Wars and Goblin Uprisings.
> 
> As an author, I think JKR included nasty and somewhat ambiguous
> characters to prevent the Disneyfication (happiest place on earth) 
of
> Hogwarts. One could say, she presents Hogwarts warts and all.
 
> ******** nettie:
I'm glad that we have this multitude of charecters on which to draw 
that influence Harry. Apart from the fact that JKR has the talent to 
write and describe such colourful people I think they have each  
apart to contribute to Harry's memory and his own personality. They 
are all part of life's rich tapestry!
 
>Harry finds Hogwarts a
> very conflicting place. At once, he finds in the most comfortable
> place, the place, by his own admission, that feels more like home 
than
> any other. But at the same time, Hogawrts is a painful place; a 
place
> where he has suffered much misery. The bulk of the student body is
> frequently against him, he endures their stares, mumblings, and
> rumors, he has suffered many humiliations at the hands of Malfoy,
> every years something majorly bad happens to him. Filch is 
miserable,
> Snape is horrendous, Binns is painfully boring, Umbridge in 
criminal,
> McGonagall is strict, he's alway in trouble, etc... etc... etc.... 
> 
> In summary, Harry both feels at home and very much alienated at 
Hogwarts.

**********  Yes , this is another of my feelings which you have 
expressed so well. Hogwarts is no Utopia for Harry, it is a 
challenging and threatening environment. A boy wizard , with no 
knowledge of his past is suddenly lurched into this magical world and 
has few real friends to turn to. A steep learning curve indeed.
Hogwarts School, although a refreshing change from Privet Drive,has 
it's own pecking order and Harry still has to fight for his rights. 

nettie