Too "Good" Harry / The resolution of Snape

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 118664


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "lupinlore" <bob.oliver at c...> 
wrote:

snip.

Yes, that is one of the questions we argue about, isn't it?  
Chuckle.  It does seem to constitute a basic divide among readers, 
this question of the adults.  I have to admit, I am of the opposite 
inclination, and really don't see why people find the adults so 
fascinating.  I mean, we have, (IMO of course):
> 
> 1) An emotionally crippled, semi-hysterical neurotic who seems to 
be an adequate spy but other than that is rather a boring and 
uninteresting Johnny One-Note with a penchant for acting the fool;
> 
> 2) a passive-aggressive werewolf with a severe inferiority complex;
> 
> 3) a teacher who, despite supposed decades of experience, seems 
> totally incapable of dealing with the most understandable of 
> behavior from adolescent boys, much less of communicating 
adequately with said adolescents, and finally;
> 
> 4) a headmaster who, despite supposedly being the most powerful 
> wizard in the world, lurches from one spectacular failure and 
> misjudgment to another
> 
> I mean they really are a bunch of pathetic magical morons 
(chuckle, IMO of course).  At the end of OOTP, when the order 
threatened the Dursleys, I was waiting for Harry to say, "Gee, 
thanks idiots.   You're only about fifteen years too late.  Now, why 
don't you really impress me and take care of your own Voldemort 
problems?"


Alla:

Oh, Lupinlore, I love your posts. :) That is surely unexpected and 
to some extent very agreeable look at at the adults of Potterverse.
Really, those who expect the child to take on the most evil of evil 
Lords for them singlehandedly are bunch of morons.

Now, why people love adults? I can only speak for myself and nobody 
else, of course.

I love them BECAUSE they are adults and for what their characters 
could be and sometimes are in fanfiction, because we do see those 
glimpses in canon.
All adults in Potterverse had been through hell - war, betrayal of 
trust, loss of friends and loved ones, unfair imprisoment. They 
SHOULD be much more complicated characters just because they saw 
more than children.

To me it also includes emotional attachment to them, of course.
Let's take Sirius for example - unfair imprisoment is something, 
which makes me sympathise with the character very strongly (besides 
his love for Harry, of course). I think it is partially because I 
come from the country, where during seventy eyars of soviet regime 
millions suffered unjustly in prisons and were killed only because 
they did not like the regime.


See, I ,like Nora think, that from the point of literary analysis, 
Harry is objectively more complicated character than any of the 
adults, simply because we are in his head all the time and see 
different motivations for his behaviour. Harry is an exception for 
me, because he just like my favourite adults (Sirius, Lupina dn 
Snape) had been through hell too, that is why I am only happy that 
JKR develops him so well, but as to other kids.... Hmmm, I don't 
know.

I think Ron is now well developed character. I am not even sure than 
I can say the same about Hermione.

I cannot help but wish that the same was true for some adults too.

Now, I also think that Snape's complexity is greatly exaggerated. We 
don't know his motivations, that is absolutely true, but I think 
that once we learn them, his motivations will be crystal clear for 
us.
Now, maybe I carry a different definition of what does it mean to be 
complex character, so can someone give me one, please?


Remus - well, yes. I want more Remus int he next two books, 
absolutely.

By the way, I know I am being a bit slow, but who is number three in 
your description, if you don't mind?

Alla