Sexuality as a theme in HP (long)

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 119592


Olivier wrote:
> I try to explore the way I read them: as the journey from boyhood 
> to manhood, with an explicit reference to sexuality. 

SSSusan:
It's an interesting take, though I tend to hold some of the same 
overall objections that catkind expresses in #119577.  I also am 
curious about what your response would be to Kneasy's question in 
#119572 about author intent.


Olivier:
> PoA, like CoS, is also incredibly concerned with sexuality. 
> Harry's story in this book is his search for a sound and healthy 
> vision of his future sexuality. 
<snip> 
> The Patronus charm itself is a pretty vivid metaphor for, well, 
> you know. 
<snip>
> But most important than the scenes themselves are the characters 
> in PoA. ...James thematic role we have already spoken about, he is 
> the embodiment of an accepted sexuality, both powerful, protective 
> and responsible. ...Sirius represents the rawest sexual impulses. 
> He is (according to JKR) the "sexiest, most dangerous marauder" 
> who had escaped from a prison no-one had ever left before and that 
> no- one (even Dumbledore) seems to be able to catch or stop.


SSSusan:
What I am most surprised about, in your review of PoA, is that you 
don't address Peter Pettigrew.  Surely you can make something quite 
**significant** out of that name, as it points towards the issue of 
sexuality?? ;-)


Olivier: 
> Lupin's role is also clear. He is a remainder that sexual forces 
> are too powerful to be tamed, they must be accepted and may be 
> domesticated (the stag bows to Harry) but they also are a 
> tremendous threat. Isabelle Smadja, a french author, has theorized 
> that Lupin could also represent, well, pedophile tendencies. She 
> interprets in that sense the infamous event where "Lupin made a 
> sudden motion with his arm as though to grip Harry's shoulder, but 
> thought better of it." As she sees it, Lupin knows all too well 
> that his sexuality is not entirely safe, so he tries to contain 
> his impulse as best as he can.


Catkind:
> The idea of Lupin representing paedophilia is interesting: I'd say 
> he rather represents something like being HIV positive - he isn't 
> in fact dangerous to the children, with proper precautions, and 
> certainly shouldn't be prevented from teaching, but there is a lot 
> of prejudice against him and people are irrationally scared of him.


SSSusan:
I object to Ms. Smadja's interpretation of Lupin.  That is reading 
so *very* much into that motion, imo.  I just read this scene last 
night, and I do not understand why it's so hard to take that motion 
as simply Lupin's impulse to comfort Harry but then realizing that 
he "knows" Harry better than Harry knows him.  If that makes sense?  
Lupin knew James & Lily so well; like Sirius will later, he probably 
sometimes feels as if he knows Harry well, too.  But Harry doesn't 
know about the James/Sirius/Lupin connection -- at least not the 
details -- and I think Lupin stopped himself from completing an 
action that he thought might seem weird or inappropriate to Harry.  

Regardless, I do NOT think it symbolizes any pedophilic tendency on 
Lupin's part.  [ESE!Lupin is fun to consider; but would JKR 
intentionally introduce a character who not only appears to be one 
of the good guys, one of Harry's biggest supporters, but who's 
actually a pedophile?  I just don't think so.]

Anyway, I think catkind's interpretation makes more sense.

Siriusly Snapey Susan