Responses of children

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 176457

> Carol responds:
> 
> Setting aside the responses of real-life kids (though I'm 
interested
> in that, too), maybe we should consider the response of the kid
> protagonists, especially Harry, who rejects the idea of working 
with
> Slytherin out of hand, largely because of his enmity with Draco
> Malfoy. <SNIP>

Alla:

We certainly can and should if we want to, but I am specifically 
interested in real life children's reactions right now, you know, 
not 
to say that I want or have any right to stop anybody in discussing 
kids protagonists reactions, just not what I want to discuss at this 
moment in time.

I am interested in them just because I find it fascinating to 
compare 
kids and adults' reactions, but I am also interested to find out 
whether JKR succeeded or not in certain areas where readers adults 
claim she failed or suceeded ( and Slytherin and House Unity being 
only one of them, actually)



> va32h:
> 
> No she really didn't.  She was angry that Draco came after Harry 
in 
the 
> RoR, because she really thought he'd changed his mind after he 
refused 
> to identify the trio at Malfoy Manor. 

Alla:

Hee, I take it she did not think that Draco was really saving Harry 
in 
there?

va32h:
<SNIP>
 > I don't think kids take this to heart as much as we do though.  
I've 
> gone on record with how I felt after reading DH - my daughter had 
to 
> comfort me!  "Mom, it's just a book!"

Alla:

Of course it depends on individual reactions, but I actually 
remember 
quite well that when I was a bit older than your daughter, but not 
much, I was taking to heart the books I loved and reacting 
emotionally, etc. In fact to me the fact that my emotions are 
involved 
in reading the book is still one of the first signs that I will love 
the book. But I am saying that I do remember that it started early 
enough for me. So, I really do not know. 

va32h: 
> She gets that the Slytherins are bad the way Umbridge is bad the 
way 
> Olaf is bad in Lemony Snicket the way the Evil Queen is bad in 
Snow 
> White.  

Alla:

Right, the designated House of bad guys with fairy tale allusions, I 
definitely see that. I guess the difference between your daughter's 
reaction and mine is that I did get the sign of change out of 
epilogue, while not being bothered at all by Slytherins' treatment 
through the book.



> va32h:
> 
> I don't know actually.  She's never mentioned any of the Sorting 
Hat 
> songs, and she's at school now so I can't ask.  I'm pretty sure 
she 
> skipped over big chunks of OoTP anyway (not that I blame her!)
> 
> Although if you are asking me, Alla, I would say that the DA was a 
huge 
> step in the direction of House unity - although of course it was 
> abandoned long ago. 
> 
> I had thought, after OoTP, that Harry would keep his ties with the 
> members of other Houses - and it would eventually help him defeat 
> Voldemort.  He would need the qualities of all houses to hatch a 
plan 
> grand enough to conquer the Dark Lord - was  my idea.  But maybe 
the 
> Sorting Hat's song was just meant to foreshadow the DA itself and 
> nothing beyond that book.  


Alla:

See, I am not a big fan of OOP myself, except loving angry Harry 
there, but I am just wondered if Sorting Hat Song meant to 
foreshadow 
the House Unity, shouldn't that be a big enough sign for child 
reader -
 that is since I do believe that younger audience is a primary 
target 
of the books.

I don't know.  I think you are probably right about Song being DA 
foreshadowing and that's about it.