Double standards for male and femalle characters? Was: Re: Mother Molly

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 125364




Sandra:

And on this subject, what about the torturing scenes where Harry has 
to write lines that are carved into the back of his hand? I hated 
that so much - it's such a twisted idea in the first place (shame on 
JKR), but if say Snape had given that as a punishment to Hermione 
and was 'overseeing' her for the duration, I believe Childline would 
use it to trigger a new campaign! However, the 'lady' responsible 
was merely exercising her authority. I refer to both writer and 
character, and feel rather angry about it. There's plot-development 
and there's character-development, and that was just a bad idea done 
for the sake of a cheap'n'easy answer to both.
 
Sandra
(still miffed and sickened, but nowhere near as much as one of my 
friend's daughters who refused to finish the book.)


Alla:

I am afraid I don't understand your argument. Umbridge's detentions 
were disgusting, immoral, cruel... Pick your own word. :)
I don't even remember anyone arguing that Umbridge was 
purely "exercising her authority" and therefore it was OK. It surely 
was not me. :o)

Some posters argued that detentions were good BECAUSE they  showed 
to Harry how dangerous Umbridge was, but that is not exactly 
defending her , isn't it? 

No matter which character will be doing such disgusting thing, male 
or female, I can assure you, I won't praise or even justify it. It 
is just NOT justifiable at all, IMO.

I don't know whether I agree with you that it was bad plot device . 
I honestly don't know. I don't know what JKR had in mind introducing 
it. I mean I agree with Rebecca that we were supposed to feel sick 
while reading it, but besides that I am not sure whether it advanced 
plot much or not.

I guess it accomplished one thing for me - it made me sympathise 
with Harry even more I already did.

Just my opinion of course,

Alla.