Failed Friendships / JKR's Opinion (was:Re:Draco, Narcissa and Harry)
horridporrid03
horridporrid03 at yahoo.com
Fri Dec 14 18:36:12 UTC 2007
No: HPFGUIDX 179863
> >>Betsy Hp:
> > ...will be exactly the same. After all, they have the exact same
> > issues passing between them: cut-throat quidditch games and way
> > too serious attention paid to house points and all. Slytherin
> > and Gryffindor will never be friends. The rift has won.
> >>Pippin:
>
> Wh-at?? So, in your opinon the S/G hatred is about Quidditch and
> House Points and has nothing to do with the fear of dark magic or
> pureblood mania?
Betsy Hp:
That's correct. I'm somewhat surprised to see you think
differently. I thought the books ended with the idea that there's
not really such a thing as "dark magic" and I didn't see much made
about "pureblood mania" either. The final battle took place between
two guys of a similar blood background and with similar views on
magic use. I mean, one was psycho and really into chaos, and the
other was not psycho and more into order. And it's cool the non-
psycho won. But I didn't see any definitive statement about blood or
magic being made. I'd say that the statement made (if there was one)
was about death.
> >>Pippin:
> But if so then all the Houses should be at each other's throats,
> and they're not.
Betsy Hp:
Aren't they? I mean, when the other Houses have a chance, they root
for their House as shown in GoF with Hufflepuff Cedric.
> >>Pippin:
> Besides which nobody cares much about House Points past third year
> (we don't even find out who won the cup) and being too keen on
> Quidditch as a grown up is viewed as slightly pathetic -- look at
> Bagman.
Betsy Hp:
Doesn't the WW quite like Bagman? Arthur doing him favors and juries
cooing over him as he's put on trial for being a death eater, etc.?
And if no one cares about House Points, why was Harry ostracized in
PS/SS? And who was doing all the cheering when Gryffindor pulled it
out in the end?
> >>Pippin:
> OTOH, at the end of DH dark magic has been defeated.
> <snip>
Betsy Hp:
Huh? *Voldomort* was defeated at the end of DH. I suspect
Unforgivables would still work.
> >>Pippin:
> Scorpius has surely been raised to think he has enemies, but I
> doubt he's been raised to think dark magic is cool.
Betsy Hp:
I'm quite positive James thinks it's cool since his mom and dad
thought it cool. (Though only if used for the greater good, of
course. <eg>)
> >>Pippin:
> <snip>
> And pureblood mania has been diluted -- flawed reproductive
> strategies are, after all, by definition self-limiting.
Betsy Hp:
As per Ron, wizards are still very interested in the pedigree of
those their children breed with. It's just, some criteria has
changed. (You know how fickle fashions can be. <eg>)
> >>Betsy Hp:
> > Actually, JKR's opinion count's the *least* in my opinion.
> > Because she's the one trying to tell us something. It's *the
> > reader's* call as to whether or not she succeeded. Like a pastry
> > chef may feel he has placed the most delicious cake in the world
> > in front of you, but it's your taste that will be the judge.
> >>Pippin:
> But it's not fair or useful criticism to douse the cake with catsup
> and then complain that it didn't improve the taste, or insist that
> the chef has made an apple pie and as an apple pie the cake is
> lousy.
Betsy Hp:
Of course. Which is why I discuss the books here and not
fanfiction. So I look at what's been written and evaluate it.
That's my opinion at play, not JKR's. Now, JKR can tell me, "oh,
this is a chocolate cake" but it's still *my* opinion as to whether
or not I can taste the chocolate, or if it's a good chocolate cake,
etc.
> >>Pippin:
> Like it or not, the author's intent counts for something.
Betsy Hp:
Right, and I'm not saying her intent doesn't matter. What I'm saying
is her *opinion* doesn't matter.
Betsy Hp
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