Bad guys and black hats (was Re: Unreliable narrator)

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 117719


> Renee:
> Then this is where we must agree to disagree. IMO a (contemporary) 
> literary text should basically speak for itself - barring 
> explanations to readers from a different cultural environment, 
> perhaps. If authors need to explain what they're trying to convey, 
> there's something not quite right. It's a form of telling, instead 
> of showing.   
> 


Alla:

I meant to clarify it right away, but somehow forgot, sorry.

I just wanted to say that I value author's intention, when 
character's motivations could be interpreted in several different 
ways. In that situation, when I am kind of confused, I guess and I 
have to choose the interpretation, I will go with author's intention 
as I understand it.

Take Snape, for example. :o) She says that he is sadistic teacher 
and not that I had many doubts about that quality of his, but I 
still thought that  maybe he plays at least a little bit. When I 
hear such quote from the author's mouth, I am fully convinced.

Again, not that text did not speak for itself, but it kinda help me 
eliminate my doubts.

I am afraid I am not making much sense.

Take the situation with Voldemort, for example. I have quite clear 
opinion of him and no matter how many times Rowling says that her 
bad guys are not conventional black hats, it won't help her case in 
mind, unless indeed she will show it to me in the story.

So, I don't think we are that much in the disagreement.