Potter's Teacher's Edition

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 175392

> >>Betsy Hp:
> > I must say the idea that there needs to be Teacher's Edition for 
> > DH is a bit funny.  It's not like there's a deep lesson in       
> > there.  The intended moral seems to be, "Nazis are bad" (thanks, 
> > Jo!).

> >>Pippin:
> How do you know there's not a deep lesson?

Betsy Hp:
Because I'm really, really smart. <rbg>

> >>Pippin:
> Because there's an obvious message does that mean there can't also 
> be a more subtle one?

Betsy Hp:
No, not with a good writer.  Which JKR isn't, unfortunately.  I 
suspect that if pressed for the "subtle" message JKR would burble 
something about death.

IMO, the actual "subtle" message (though I honestly don't think it's 
that subtle at all) is the "bigotry is where it's at!" message that 
snuck in while JKR was sending her check to Amnesty International.

> >>Betsy Hp:
> > Frankly, I don't buy Harry's little speech about Snape in the 
> > Epilogue.  JKR doesn't sell it for me.  I mean, yes it's there so 
> > it's canon, but it doesn't fit.
> > <snip>
> > But for some reason, JKR didn't feel that writing such a change   
> > would be interesting.

> >>Pippin:
> But she did write it!

Betsy Hp:
No, she didn't.  She really, really didn't.  Snape vomits up his 
memories and then dies.  There's not one scene where Harry has to 
deal with an unpleasant man who's not evil.  The unpleasant man is 
conveniently dead.  Harry's self-satisfaction doesn't even wobble let 
alone fall down. 

> >>Pippin:
> Harry is not an introspective character. He's an action hero. He   
> learns by doing, not thinking and what he does, all through canon, 
> is have experiences that echo and illuminate the Prince's Tale.
> <snip of examples>

Betsy Hp:
Harry is beautiful, athletic, rich, and a Gryffindor with the 
strength of the almighty Dumbledore behind him.  Any suggestion that 
Harry knows how Snape feels is laughable, IMO.
 
> >>Pippin:
> How could he go through all that and *not* feel sympathy for
> Snape?
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
He manages it for a couple of years at least.  I think it's because 
he's stupid with very little natural compassion or empathy.  Which is 
why asking me to believe Harry was suddenly hit in the head with the 
clue stick merely by watching Snape stalk his mother is asking a bit 
much of me, in my opinion as a humble reader.

> >>Pippin:
> It sounds like you're assuming the Trio must be intended as cuddly
> heroes whose  flaws are supposed to be the endearing sort that make 
> us love them all the more, only JKR totally misread what you're    
> willing to consider endearing.

Betsy Hp:
This is *exactly* how I think JKR expects me to feel.  And hoo boy, 
but she failed as far as I'm concerned.

> >>Pippin:
> But I don't think so. Not since GoF at any rate.
> 
> I think these are  supposed to be dangerously gifted young people, 
> with admirable strengths, yes...

Betsy Hp:
I honestly cannot think of one thing about the Trio that I find 
admirable.  Even within their own universe they're remarkably 
lacking. 

> >>Pippin:
> ...but also with great big honking ugly flaws that make us tremble 
> for their humanity, flaws they can't be shown overcoming because   
> they will always have to struggle against them. 

Betsy Hp:
Their flaws actually make me tremble for *JKR's* humanity because I 
get the impression she doesn't see them as flaws.  As I said in a 
previous post, I think JKR created (especially with Harry) plaster 
saints that we're supposed to chuck under the chin and send on their 
way.  Meanwhile I stand aghast at the immense amount of self-
righteous, self-involved hate the Trio operate under.

> >>Pippin:
> "Harry held up the Elder Wand, and Ron and Hermione looked at it
> with a reverence that, even in his befuddled and sleep-deprived
> state, he did not like to see." Doesn't that make it clear enough
> that Harry knows he and his friends bear watching?

Betsy Hp:
Pippin, Harry is an idiot.  He's going to forget that moment the 
second something shiny crosses his path.

Betsy Hp