Harry's potential father figures (was Re: Snape as father figure)

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 130949

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "pippin_999" <foxmoth at q...> wrote:

> > 
> 
> Pippin:
> It would be nice if Harry had such a father in the same way it 
> would be nice if Voldemort gave up seeking world domination 
> and decided to devote his energies to becoming all-wizard
> Gobstones champion, ie, it would give the characters 
> something to cheer about and completely spoil the story
> from the reader's point of view.

I disagree completely.  I don't think it would "spoil" the story at
all, although I acknowledge it would spin it off in another direction.
 Development of character is integral to a story, as you say. 
However, the hero can't be the ONLY character who develops or the the
story becomes a mere intellectual exercise rather than a believable
narrative.  And, as multiple characters develop, the relationships
among them change -- sometimes in healthy ways, sometime in unhealthy
ways.  Nothing could be more natural or believable, or more
interesting to read.


> 
> IMO, Harry's challenge is to grow into someone who could be a 
> capable father himself despite having lost the good father 
> he had in James. That means he has to winnow the good 
> from the bad in all his father figures, Snape included. 

Once again, I disagree completely.  I think the "multiple father
figure" approach, while very interesting and clever, amounts to
overanalyzing badly when you link it to "Harry's challenge."  Harry's
challenge is to defeat Voldemort and live to tell about it.  I
acknowledge that a search for a father figure is a part of Harry's
quest (JKR herself has said so).  However, I think that describes an
aspect of his character and personality (a very believable one
considering his history), not the central challenge he faces.



> 
> If Harry never learns to appreciate Snape's constancy, the way
> that Snape kept trying to do what was asked of him despite his 
> obvious dislike and unsuitablity for the task, then Harry will have 
> failed to learn something he needs to know to be an effective 
> parent. 
> 
> 

You may well be correct about that.  However, if the other characters
do not grow in their interaction with Harry, then they will have been
revealed as sterile figures and the potential for growth in their
relationships, presently rich with possibility, will only stagnate,
thus revealing Harry, and to a certain the other kids, as the only
ones with true capability for growth and change.  It may be that JKR
intends that, but it will be very sad if that turns out to be the
case, particularly with regard to Lupin, who most needs growth in this
area, and Dumbledore, who may have the most potential.

I tend to agree that Harry will not have a single "father figure" in
the classic sense.  That does not mean that there will not be
development, and clarification, in some of the potential "paternal"
relationships he does have.  As I say, Dumbledore has perhaps the most
potential for growth in this aspect of his characterization, and Lupin
certainly has the most need, as a character, for such development. 
If, as the veils of mystery surrounding so much of the plot and
characters fall away, these relationships do not show further
development, it will be very sad.  Such a wastage of potential would,
unfortunately, be true to life, but not at all pleasant or interesting
to read about.  That, I think, would come close to "spoiling the story
from the reader's point of view" -- at least from the point of view of
this reader.

Lupinlore