[HPforGrownups] CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chapter 19: the Lion and the Serpant

[K G]

No: HPFGUIDX 99848



Melody <Malady579 at hotmail.com> wrote:
Questions:

1)  To those with power that are not clever, the clever are a bane to their existence.  The powerful are really powerless to stop their creativity, so do they do it to try to limit it or force them to subject themselves to their power?  Do they right so many laws to reign in their cleverness to keep them from overthrowing them, or do they do it to break their spirit?

***

The powerful feel threatened by the clever and are afraid of loosing that power to the clever.  Many will adopt a policy of first strike in order to try to throw the other off guard.  They strike with what their strength is, and that is with power itself.  


2)  Hermione finally revealed she was almost in Ravenclaw.  This has been a fan question for a long time.  Did JKR add that bit in there to answer our question, or was is a natural progression in the book?  Or another way of asking, why have they not asked this before?  Or are the houses integrating more now and these questions often come up?


***

I, myself, have actually seen Hermione as fitting into slytherin if it had not been for the fact of her parents.  She is very clever and look at things like the polyjuice and the drugged cakes.


3)  Where was Dumbledore during the Quidditch match?  Is he trying to stay out of trouble and not give Umbridge cause to hate him more, or is he using this "away" time to get things done with the OoP?

***

I cannot remember off hand how often DD showed up to the matches.  For some reason I want to say that he only came to some but not all.  I am probably wrong.  But I did notice a theme throughout the book of DD staying a good bit to himself in general and allowing Umbridge a very liberal hand.  I had the feeling that DD could have put a stop to a lot of the things going on but chose not to for some reason.  I never really worked out why.

4)  SHIP question:  Luna makes a point to wish Ron luck for the Quidditch match and Hermione gives him a kiss.  They both pretty much ignored Harry. Is this a foreshadow of a cat fight to come?  Who would win?

***

I do not really get into the ship issues because I have generally been wrong all my life when it comes to ships of all types.  To weigh in with my oppinion (so take what I say as what will NOT happen!!)  I think that Luna did notice Ron at first but later she had more of a connection with Harry.  Hermione had a bit of a spark of jelousy as far as I am concerned.  The couples that I think will end up together will be Hermione and Ron, Luna and Harry, Ginny and Nevile.  (Because I said it, it will NEVER happen!!)

5)  Slytherin put a lot of time and effort in their tactics against Ron and the Gryffindor team. They spent many hours creating badges, writing the song,and teaching others to chant and sing together...a feat in and of itself since Slytherin is not thought of as clever,
team workers, artistic, and able to sing on pitch (ok that one is assumed by me)  Does this show a true willingness on Slytherin's side to actually work as a group for the good of a common goal even if that goal is for poor reasons? 


***

I would really like to know who arranged the whole thing because I cannot think of any of the slytherin's off hand who would be creative enough for it.  Do I think that they could pull it off?  Yes, very easily.  It did not surprise me at all the actual fact of what they did, but the creativity behind it did.  I could not see, for instance, one of the slytherin-trio doing something like that.


6)  While we are readers, and the other three houses, hate the tactics used my Slytherin at the Quidditch match, it is actually very effective and ingenious.  Worse is said at RL games today to the opposing team.  Can Slytherin use this newfound talent for good instead of personal gain?


***

As long as the common good included personal gain (as in what good is in it for me?- place the good on a more personal level), then, yes. 


7) Umbridge, once again, has proved herself quit capable of being one sided, bias, manipulative, and very politically minded. Her desire for power over the situation at Hogwarts has shown to be more for herself than for the good of the community.  Is her lack of confidence in herself and lack of respect from others fueling this rage about her seemingly lack of power, or can her thirst for power ever be quenched?

***

In Umbridge's case, I see someone placed in a situation far over her head and in a position that she felt put her on equal footing with one of the most powerful wizzards that ever lived.  For someone who is power-hungry, that is a very heady experience.  With some people, the more power they get, the more greedy for it they become.  It is a never ending spiral that only leads down.  I also feel that when she took the position, she only saw power and did not see the reality of actually having to deal with kids and had no clue how to do it and as such, in self preservation, with her authority slipping out of her control, tried to tighten it.  Think of a hand with sand in it.  The looser the grip, the more that you can hold, the tighter the grip, the more that slips between the fingers.

8)  Does she favor Slytherin because they have buttered her toast better than the other, submit themselves better than the others, or because she has alliances with their parents that she upholds?  Or is it because they have ideals that she too holds?

***

The slitherins know how to play someone like her almost instinctually.  A power hungry person who is clueless is like putty in their hands.  They knew it and took advantage where they could.  

9)  When the punishment out weighs the crime, does the punishment ever work in reforming the criminal? Or does it just inflame them more to reform the system?  Can punishment really ever work on those smart enough and clever enough to fight the injustice of the system?

***

Good question.  I think it all has to do with the character of the one being punished.  If the one being punished is of weak character, then you have a chance of the person rebelling and working harder against the system in negative ways.  ("If I am going to be punished for it anyway, I ought to just go ahead and do it." or "I'll show them")

10)  Once Lee Jordan graduates, who should take over as commentator? (I am cheering for Luna for the sheer amusement of it all...)

***

Luna would have to be my choice as well!!


Moonmyyst




		
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