MAC*

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 180034

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Kai Wen Lee <leekaiwen at ...> 
wrote:

Geoff: 
> > Umbridge did not intend to be the most annoying character 
> > intentionally. 

CJ:
> Sorry, I should clarify. I was referring to the intentions of the
> author, not the character. JKR intended both Skeeter and Umbridge 
> to be dislikable. With Skeeter, I contend she achieved that in ways 
> she didn't intend; I think she was more successful with Umbridge. 
> (BTW, I take your point with Umbridge, but I don't see the 
> disconnect. You seem to be arguing that Umbridge can't be annoying 
> because she's loathsome; can't she be both?)
 
Geoff:
If I consider a person to be loathsome, I wouldn't even  
bother to consider whether I found them annoying, hence 
my view of Umbridge.

To take a real world example consider Adolf Hitler. I believe 
him to have been loathsome. He was so far beyond annoying 
that the thought of annoyance just would not enter my head 
in that context.

CJ:
> I chose Harry as the Unintentionally Most Annoying Character 
because JKR didn't intend him to be annoying, but he managed it 
anyway.

Geoff:
Well, personally, I don't. I identify very much with Harry 
as I was when as a teenager and I was the soul of likeability 
and charm. <vbg>