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

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 131041

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


> 
> I want to see him start relating to Snape as an adult, which is 
not,
> IMO, "I'll display mature behavior when he does." It's  "I don't
> need Snape to be mature  about me in order to be mature
> about him. I am going to be fair and objective, not because it's 
> something Snape deserves, but because  I can't be  fair if I'm
> not objective, and I won't be a fair person if I only treat some 
> people fairly." And I think it will be a  revelation to Snape if 
> Harry treats him this way. 
> 
> I would like to see Harry realize that he doesn't need to punish 
his 
> oppressors to feel empowered against them. And that will be a 
> revelation too.


That would be...insipid.  Sunday school lessons have no place in non-
religious literature.  Of course, the extent to which this is a non-
religious story is itself a matter of debate.  In any case, this 
would turn the Potter story into an After School Special, which 
would be seriously revolting.
>  
<SNIP>
> > 
> 
> Pippin:
> I think it's Snape who will reveal unexpected potential, while 
Lupin
> will be seen to have wasted his, just as he wasted his opportunity 
> to be DADA teacher. But the story is about the kids, as Jo keeps
> saying--IMO, for Harry to transform any of  the adults  in 
> some Pollyanna-ish way would be jumping the shark*.
> 
> It seems to me some readers feel the absence of a 
> happy childhood so keenly that they  want to keep Harry a 
> child into what the WW considers adulthood so that he could have
> a chance to experience it, but I think Dumbledore's behavior in 
> OOP showed us the folly of this. 
> 

Well, I would say that Dumbledore's behavior shows the folly of 
secrecy, which is generally not a good thing in a relationship, 
paternal or otherwise.  Childhood, per se, has nothing much to do 
with paternal relationships.  One can have a healthy father figure 
well into adulthood.  As for jumping the shark, I would say that if 
this turns out to be nothing more than "orphan grows up well despite 
being treated badly by adults," there won't be a shark tank to jump, 
because the main storyline will be so pitiful that it would be hard 
to make it any sillier.

Lupinlore