Theoretical boundaries

[delwynmarch]

No: HPFGUIDX 120420


Renee wrote:
"And contrary to popular opinion, reason and emotion can go together;
people who are devoid of emotions often aren't the best
decision-makers, so why would they make the best critics?"

Del replies:
Making a decision and discussing possibilities are two very different
things.

Renee wrote:
"Speaking for myself, I can't enjoy a story if I don't respond 
emotionally to at least some of the characters, and if I analyse them
as characters (as opposed to analysing them as plot elements etc.),
it's impossible for me to ban these emotions entirely, even if I'd
want to. "

Del replies:
You can't ban them entirely. Some people can't ban them at all. Other
people can ban completely. Yet other people can deliberately choose
how much they ban them depending on the circumstances, their mood, or
whatever. And nobody's wrong.

I snipped the part where you explain where you think the problem comes
from, simply because I completely agree with it.

Renee wrote:
"Or are we? Do these books try to provoke the readers into being 
judgmental? Sometimes I wonder."

Del replies:
Good question. Sometimes JKR seems to *want* us to be judgmental, and
yet at other times she clearly demonstrates that Harry or some other
character (and us through them) shouldn't be so judgmental. Puzzling.

Del