Jim McGuffin

[doliesl]

No: HPFGUIDX 87950

Laura:
> "McGuffin (muh-GUF-in) noun, also MacGuffin
> 
>    A device that helps propel the plot in a story but is of little 
importance in itself.
> 
> [Coined by film director Alfred Hitchcock (1899-1980).]
> 
> A McGuffin could be a person, an object, or an event that 
characters of a story are interested in but that, intrinsically, if 
of little concern."
> 
> I wonder if that means that Ted, the newscaster IS of
> concern, if McGuffin is NOT.  Ted Tonks? anyone?

D:
I wouldn't considered Ted the newscaster as MacGuffin, it is a seseme 
size detail that is forgetable and seemingly no importance: it is NOT 
a point of interest nor a goal for ANY of the character in the story. 
Tonks herself, the character, is not even heavy weight enough (yet at 
least) to be consider having much of a point of interest nor 
influence as an actual "plot device."

In Hitchcock's film, the hero and heroine would be concerned about 
looking for some titanium or whatever spy mission they were assigned 
to, but that goal of theirs is of little interest for the audience 
and director. The REAL interest/focus is some other things: usually 
the process, especially the romantic relationship of the hero and 
heroine. 

What I would considered "MacGuffin" is something like Harry's 
Occlumency lesson. In the story it was assigned as Harry's goal to 
learn that skill. But the actual "goal" for writer/readers of that 
this plot device (or basically what reader should truly care for) are 
the whole process of the lesson itself-- the interaction between 
Snape and Harry, all the clues and revelation reveal to us along the 
process, and ultimately the Pensieve glimpse into Snape/MWPP past. 
That is what "MacGuffin" is about. The goal/interest of the character 
in the story (in this case: will Harry learn Occlumency?) is merely 
an excuse plot device that is not the real point of the story. 
Because what REALLY matter is: oh boy...did we just get a glimpse of 
Snape's awful childhood? wait...just what kind of memories did Snape 
put inside that pensieve...Harry, go have a peak for us please... 

D.