Draco, Snape and Others: Castles in the air?

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 124745


>>Lupinlore:
<snip> 
>Let me put forth a theory about Draco and Snape (and Lupin and 
Neville and Petunia and other characters we like to argue about).  
And the theory is this:  by and large they are pretty much what they 
appear to be.  The complexities we like to read into their 
characters are largely castles we build in the air.<
<snip>
>Because you see it all comes down to Harry's story.  That is what 
JKR is really interested in.<
<snip>

Betsy:
I agree that we won't get tons of insight into how the supporting 
characters think, etc.  But I don't think it's going to be quite as 
straight forward as you suggest, Lupinlore.

Because, yes, it is Harry's story. But how Harry *sees* the 
supporting characters, and how his view of them changes tell a great 
deal about his personal character development.  His view of Neville 
is a good example.

In the beginning Harry thought Neville was rather pathetic, and so 
that's how we, the readers, saw Neville.  There were hints that 
there was more to Neville than Harry realized (his courage in 
attacking Crabbe and Goyle in PS/SS at the Quidditch match for 
example).  And as the books went on both we and Harry were exposed 
to more about what made Neville tick.  And now we see Neville in a 
completely different way.  It wasn't a total shock.  OotP's Neville 
didn't come out of nowhere, but it *was* character development.  Of 
course it also served the purpose of developing Harry's character.

So, I agree that we won't get complex back stories on the other 
characters, but there will be revelations, and our views on them 
will change, for good or bad.  And that's because *Harry* will have 
changed and grown and maybe learned a thing or two.

>>Lupinlore in message # 124716:
<snip>
>Thus one of the most common criticisms of OOTP among adults
is that many of the characters do not act in consonance with the
emotional tones associated with them so far. Thus Molly suddenly
seems shrill, Dumbledore bumbling, Sirius hapless, Lupin passive,
McGonagall harsh to the point of cruelty, and Hermione a harping,
unsympathetic scold. Everyone seems "off" (even after the
explanations at the end).<

Betsy:
I disagree that the characters seemed "off".  And I think it goes to 
the point I was making earlier.  Harry is growing up, and part of 
growing up is realizing that the adults around you *aren't* perfect 
and don't know everything, and may actually be feeling their way 
blindly through.  It's not a pleasant discovery, but it's a 
necessary one.

So Molly, source of all comfort, is suddenly in need of comfort 
herself.  Sirius, rebellious and free, is suddenly trapped and 
confined.  Dumbledore actually admits to mistakes and a lack of 
total knowlege.  It's hard to take, especially when you're in a bit 
of a panic yourself.  But that's life.  I think JKR did a good job 
capturing some of the frustrations of the teenage years.

I disagree about McGonagall and Hermione though.  I'd say that 
McGonagall has always seemed strict and distant.  That she gets 
flustered and actually yells at Umbridge at one point is more 
jarring to Harry than any cross words could be, IMO.  And I thought 
Hermione was *less* bossy than usual.  She seemed almost afraid of 
Harry at some points, and backed down more easily than in past books.

The more adult view, of the different characters was one of the 
things I *enjoyed* about OotP.  Because it meant that Harry was 
growing up.  But of course, we all read the books differently.  This 
is just how I saw it.

Betsy