JKR's Messages (was Re: Hermione In Trouble?)

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 120691


SSSusan:
> > ... I do still think JKR is trying to teach us about "gray"... 
> > but I think it works because of the B/W endpoints; that is, if 
> > things were too gray with the good vs. evil, then we have a real 
> > dilemma for much of the readership, I think.  
 

Lupinlore: 
> Hmmm.  I understand your point, Susan, and I agree with it to a 
> certain extent.  However, overall I disagree with the idea of 
> JKR "teaching us" about anything, at least in any subtle or hard 
> to see way.  Oh, I don't deny that the books have messages.  
> However, JKR is not some mystic dispensing pearls of Zen wisdom 
> through her novels.  
<snip>  
> Most of the rest of what we argue about, be it Slytherin House or 
> rule-breaking or Dumbledore's lapses or a lot of other things will 
> fall under the heading of "plot mechanics."  That is, I really 
> don't think JKR is sending a subtle message at all through 
> Hermione's rule breaking or Harry's.  I think those actions are 
> meant to be part of an enjoyable adventure sequence that keeps the 
> plot moving along.   
> 
> Now, having said that I agree that JKR's writing brings up all 
> sorts of ethical and moral questions, some of them rather 
> intense.  But frankly, I don't think she's interested in most of 
> those questions.  I, for one, wish she was more interested in some 
> of them.   
<snip>
> In other words, if someone asked her point blank about Harry and 
> Hermione's rule-breaking, an honest answer (which she probably 
> would not give as it would be impolite) might well be "Now it 
> would be a mighty boring story if they just sat in Gryffindor 
> Tower like good children, wouldn't it?"


SSSusan:
Hey, Lupinlore.  You may be right.  It'll be interesting to see, 
when we arrive at the end, just how we feel about this topic and 
what we've been shown -- or not.  

I am reminded of the remarks JKR made about how she isn't writing a 
morality story so much as that morality springs naturally from it.  
Wait -- it makes more sense to go get the quote itself.  In fact, I 
see now I've thought of two different ones.  Here's the first, from 
the Electronic Telegraph, July '98:  

"Rowling admits that the moral drive is important to her, but 
stresses that it is not contrived. 'The morals tend to come quite 
naturally, often as I approach the end I realise what I've been 
writing about. But I don't think my books are preachy - Harry breaks 
rules quite routinely.'" 

And here's the second, from "Fighting In a Battle That Will Never Be 
Won" (Oct. '03):

"Indeed, I didn't intend to teach or preach to children. In fact, I 
think that, except for some rare exceptions, fiction literature 
works for children lose interest when the author is more focused in 
teaching morals to their readers than in captivating them with his 
or her tale.

"Nevertheless, I've always believed that Harry Potter books are 
highly moral. I wanted to portray the ambiguity of a society where 
intolerance, cruelty, hypocrisy and corruption are frequent, so I 
could better show how heroic it can be, no matter what your age is, 
fighting in a battle that will never be won.  I also wanted to 
reflect the fact that life between 11 and 17 years old can be hard 
and confusing, even if one has a magic wand."


SSSusan again:  Certainly she talks about captivating readers with 
the tale, which supports what you're saying, but I think these are 
also an indication that she *does* think she's sending a message or 
two to us.  It's interesting that she mentions the rule-breaking 
specifically, using it as an example that she's not preachy!

There are also these two bits, the first from an AP story in October 
1999:

"I think they're very moral books. The children the protagonists 
have to make their own choices. I see all three of them as innately 
good people."

and the second from Dateline, Nov. 2000:

"Reporter Max Wyman snatched 15 minutes with the author and asked 
her if Harry Potter is serving as a moral figure for today's 
children to emulate. 'I see him as a good person but with a human 
underbelly,' Rowling told Wyman. 'He is vulnerable; he is frequently 
afraid; he has a very strong conscience, and it is my belief that 
with the overwhelming majority of human beings--maybe I`m a wild 
optimist--most people do try to do the right thing, by their own 
lights.'"

SSSusan again:  I think these two seem to support what I was saying 
upthread about Hermione (and Harry):  that the INTENTION of the 
person matters when evaluating her/his actions.  JKR sees the trio 
as "innately good," making their own choices, trying to do the right 
thing.  I think this means JKR isn't especially likely to think that 
Hermione needs a comeuppance or punishment for her behaviors to date.

Siriusly Snapey Susan