Will there be an ESE!character in Book 7? (was:How to contstruct an ESE!plot

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 147452

> >>Sydney:
> This is a cool topic, and I've read everyone's replies, but going 
> back to the basic question, I'm going to hazard that there ISN'T   
> going to be an ESE!character at all, barring Voldemort.  
> I think that the last book will be a sort of reverse-mystery, where
> the world isn't full of hidden evil to be cast out, but full of   
> hidden good to be drawn in.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
Well, now you've got me thinking about why I think there will be, 
why I'd *like* there to be, an ESE!character <g>.  What good would 
such a character serve, beyond the initial thrill of discovery? (And 
the thrill *has to* last beyond the first reveal if these books have 
a hope of becoming classics, I think.)  Because I love, love, *love* 
the idea of Harry *finally* seeing the "hidden good" in characters 
he's written off so easily.  (Part of the reason I loved HBP was how 
JKR treated Draco.  It was like she wrote a little note: "Dear Draco 
Fans, I love you! Hugs and kisses, Jo.")  It'd be so very sweet if 
book 7 presented a similar little note to Snape fans.  And Slytherin 
fans, for that matter.

But in the middle of all of this love, does there need to be a bit 
of bad?

> >>Sydney:
> The central drive of a classic detective story is the separating   
> and casting out of a scapegoat, and that's just antithetical to    
> really.. what's the word?  nutritious?  literature.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
The thing is, I don't think JKR hates the idea of a scapegoat.  
Quirrell was one in PS/SS.  Pettigrew was another in PoA.  And 
Barty, Jr. was yet another in GoF.  The interesting thing is that 
all three men were written as completely pathetic.  And I think JKR 
expected the reader to feel a bit of sympathy for both Quirrell and 
Barty when they died.  (It's interesting that both deaths went 
against the "good guys" wishes.)

I do think JKR is against the idea of an easily identifiable 
scapegoat, i.e. one predetermined by house or blood.  And I think 
she's against a group being designated scapegoat status.  But I'm 
not sure she's against an example of someone choosing the easy 
rather than the right path, as I think all three men do.  (Does that 
still fit within the scapegoat definition?)

Therefore I do think there will be an ESE!character for Harry to 
confront.  I do think that part and parcel with figuring out who his 
true allies are Harry will have to figure who his real enemies are.  
Or at least, who of his current allies are not stong enough to 
continue in the fight.  Does that make sense?

For example *if* one of the twins is ESE (and I'm saying if, because 
I'm by no means saying I honestly think this will happen -- it's 
more of a wish than anything else) I think it'll be something where 
say George made a deal with a shady character to keep the Death 
Eaters from attacking their store for either money or product.  So, 
not that George is *really* evil and loves Voldemort oh so much, but 
that he was weak when it came to making a successful run of his 
business.

> >>Magpie:
> I hadn't thought of it in those terms but that's exactly my       
> mindset in going into the last book.  The challenge to Harry       
> personally is in seeing the good, and if he's seeing the bad      
> having it more be about accepting bad parts of the previously      
> good, if that comes into it.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
See, I wonder if it isn't about Harry seeing *clearly*.  That is, 
seeing the good for what it is, and the bad for what it is.  Because 
Harry has had a tendency to see those who treat him well as good, 
and those who treat him badly as bad.  Which isn't a clear or wise 
way of seeing.  It would go with Dumbledore trying to help Harry get 
a clear view of Tom Riddle, of Voldemort.

> >>Nrenka:
> Personally, I don't understand why people are wanting to shove all 
> of the BANG over onto book 7.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
Classic story structure I guess.  Not that *all* the bang needs to 
be in book 7.  But the biggest bang should be there.  And towards 
the end too.  I mean, even if Snape is DDM, killing Dumbledore is 
still pretty darn bang-y, IMO.

Betsy Hp