Minerva McGonagall--DD's Right-Hand Woman or Truly a Secondary Character?

[dcgmck]

No: HPFGUIDX 115486


> SSSusan:
[snip]
> So the WYSIWYG part of it is understandable.  She's just steady, 
rock-solid, consistent, stern but humorous McGonagall, I guess.  
> 
> Jen:
> > While it's true Hermione *might* be like McGonagall in 40 years, 
I think it's more true that McGonagall was like Hermione when she was 
> > young! Hermione has had the influence of Ron and Harry to loosen 
> > her up a bit and to see there's another world out there beside 
> > books and learning. McGonagall may never have had another 
influence.

dcgmck:
I love the character of McGonagall, perhaps because I read much more 
into her than appears on the written page, so I've truly enjoyed 
reading all the recent posts on this topic.

I wonder, though, how you can possibly think that McGonagall never 
had her own "loosening" influences.  If she didn't, where does that 
wry, dry, sly humor come from?  Where does her authentically rabid 
enthusiasm for Quidditch come from? From whence stems the creativity 
to favor the Gryffindors on detention by sending them with Hagrid, 
thus minimizing their punishment while simultaneously torturing and 
terrorizing Malfoy?

Just because the callow youth through whose eyes we must peer in 
frustration cannot see the rascal lurking behind those glasses 
doesn't mean I can't project such qualities on her.  My personal 
experience is that the strictest teachers tend to be the most fun and 
radical outside the classroom and in faculty meetings.

dcgmck, fondly remembering...