Hagrid and spiders (was: Aberforth)

[va32h]

No: HPFGUIDX 175034

Irene Mikhlin wrote:
>  
> > I was just so incredibly annoyed by the 
> > spiders moment. Here they are, killing
> > children, and all Hagrid cares about
> > is "don't hurt them"?! 

Then Egglplant wrote: 
> I was under the impression Hagrid was telling the spiders not to 
hurt
> the kids not the other way around.

Now me:

Oh I totally agree with Irene. Hagrid didn't want anyone killing his 
precious little spiders. 

Sadly, I think JKR intends us to see this as an amusing foible of 
Hagrid's; that he can't help but love all sorts of vicious, dangerous 
animals. That theme certainly crops up in every book: Norbert, 
Aragog, Buckbeak, Blast Ended Skrewts, Grawp...okay I guess he took a 
break in HBP. 

And on one level I do appreciate it as amusing. Just like I think 
Fred and George are very funny, on one level. But on another level, 
Hagrid's constant refusal to acknowledge the real danger of these 
creatures is very disturbing, as it routinely puts students at risk. 
Just as on another level Fred and George's pranks are often cruel. 

I think JKR expected the reader to feel comic relief at that moment 
in DH  - "Oh that Hagrid! Still worried about his spiders!" Just like 
she expects us to think James Potter is a great guy, when he really 
comes off as sort of an a-hole, and she expects us to still hate 
Snape even though a lot of us ending up not hating Snape. 

va32h