[HPforGrownups] Re: Writers Fiat (was: Stockholm Syndrome - was No sympathy for Kreacher)

[Charme]

No: HPFGUIDX 124651


"lupinlore" uttered:

>
> Very good genre discussion.  I think that the problem for most of us
> on this side of the fence is *as the series has evolved including
> OOTP* it just DOESN'T work for us.  In fact many of us find it...
> well... at least repugnant if not downright reprehensible.
>
> If the series had REMAINED in the kind of fairy tale mode established
> by the early books, things might well be different.  But with the turn
> in OOTP... it just sets DD up as at best a severely flawed figure, and
> at worst, a downright vile one.
>
> I think JKR probably intended to set DD up as a human (i.e. somewhat
> flawed) but extremely good figure.  For most of us on this side, I
> think, she has failed rather badly in that attempt to this point.  It
> is possible that further reservations will improve matters.  But at
> the moment I feel safe in saying that quite a lot of readers aren't
> all that impressed with her portrayal of DD as it stands at the
> moment.

Charme:

No, it doesn't work for you, this much I can sense :)  However, I must say I 
really do wish (and maybe someone can suggest this to one of the many HP fan 
sites we all visit) would actually poll fans to see who believes what one 
way or the other on this issue.

If I base this just on what my other obsessed HP friends and family locally 
told me since we last responded to each other,  I get more adults than kids 
who believe as you do, Lupinlore. (Insert poll disclaimer here - and the 
focus group is now at 21 responses)   None of the kids (8 kids, ages 7-14, a 
nice healthy mix) thought DD was being "bad" or nasty WRT to putting Harry 
with the Dursleys; in fact, they all asked what else he could have done to 
protect Harry since he thought the DE's were "out to get him" after LV's 
demise. When I tried to play devil's advocate with them, they reminded me 
that Petunia's "Harry's" mother's sister - his only family and his 
protection from the DE's and LV. No prompting from yours truly either - I'd 
never asked them what they thought like this and I was surprised at the 
responses. Interesting, since most of the time the dangerous DE's are 
sometimes shunted aside by fans in these "grownup" discussions as one of the 
reasons why DD had to make the decisions he did. I also asked the kids if 
they thought DD should have said something more apologetic like you stated 
earlier and my 10 year old nephew (God bless'im) emailed me back with the 
exclamation that DD "cried didn't he? He kept Harry alive. Dumbledore was 
really really sad."  OTOH, with adults it's a different story.  You get a 
50 - 50 split in my world.

You use words, Lupinlore, like "vile" and "flawed" in your observations. 
While you're wholeheartedly entitled to that, I think it's rather too soon 
to come to that conclusion - the series isn't complete yet. As for me, the 
jury's out either way, but I certainly did enjoy having the opportunity to 
pepper my friends and family about it :)

Charme