Why dislike Hagrid? (Was: Snape and Neville)

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 113786

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "justcarol67" 
<justcarol67 at y...> wrote:

snip.

> So to each his or her own taste in characters, and to each a valid,
> canon-based interpretation determined by our own powers of 
observation
> and deduction and not by what the author wants us to think.
> 
  Alla:

Agreed,  but to me the arguments are stronger, if it is supported by 
authoritarial intent.

Let's take Snape for example (Ha! Did you think I would choose 
anybody else? :o))

So, we argue about "Sadistic v Sarcastic". Say we both support our 
arguments by canon, even by the same canon, but interpret it 
differently, which happens quite often.

JKR then says that "he is a sadistic teacher". Granted, you can 
argue that what author says and how author conveyed it are two 
different things. You can argue that JKR did not manage to protray 
sadist in the classroom ( IMO, she totally did, but that is beside 
the point).

But the books are still her creation and I do not think that 
authoritarial intent should be completely disregarded when we 
interpret the text, unless of course we absolutely do not see what 
author sees in his/her work.

Of course I read Elkins' arguments about "subversive readings of the 
canon" and enjoyed it (it is impossible not to enjoy Elkins' work, 
IMO), but when push comes to shove, I am one of those readers, who 
finds author's intention to be the important one. I LIKE being 
skillfully manipulated by the talented author into being on 
the "same page" with his/her.

It does not mean that I will like  or dislike exactly the same 
characters JKR does (I am quite indifferent to Hagrid), but in 
general, I cannot disregard her intent.