Wanted! Complex Female Adult Character:/Good writing

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 164723

> Caspen:
> 
> Thanks for the response. You make good points, especially about it 
> being impossible for JKR to fulfill everyone's wishes. And I'm sure 
> Book VII will be enjoyable too, even if I don't get the character 
> development for some of the adult females I think I should, and 
that 
> I think JKR has promised (very vaguely, I'll admit).
> 
> I still think it would be really stunning (even if I can't have a 
lot 
> more character development) to throw an ESE McGonagall twist into 
> VII, on some days. But, since I do like Minerva, I'm a bit 
ambivalent 
> about that as well. 
> 
> I've made some peace with it over the last couple days as I've 
> perused the additional responses to this thread. I still don't 
think 
> Minerva is getting fair treatment re: her age, supposed excessive 
> emotionality and softness, etc. I just don't see that she has any 
> real disadvantages in terms of trustworthiness on these issues 
> compared to any of the main adult male characters. Certainly not 
> based upon  canon anyway, but I'll be paying close attention in my 
> upcomming rereading.  In any case, it's hard to say whom, if anyone 
> is really being sexist (i.e.: us or Jo) so I've decided to stop 
with 
> the judgements for the time being.
> 
> I'm not ancient, btw - just 45 - and I certainly don't mind  saying 
> so.
> 



Alla:

Do not get me wrong. I think it is perfectly fine for the reader to 
wish for the certain things to happen in the story. Half of the items 
I brought up upthread are **my** wishes, which I want to come true 
really badly.

It is just if they do not come true, I will be dissapointed for sure, 
but I would not necessarily call JKR a bad writer, that would depend 
on how it would be written, hehe.

Let's put it this way, off the top of my head I cannot remember 
**anything** I agree on with Carol, but my criteria of what 
constitutes good writing is actually quite close to hers. Not exact, 
but close enough.

Now I do think that the emotional satisfaction of the reader plays 
very important part in how I evaluate the work of art, but I think 
that this is a subjective element, which while should be taken into 
consideration, should not be the only one. IMO there are if not 
objective, then at least widely accepted criteria of good writing and 
whether the plot would be resolved the way you or me wish is not one 
of them. Again totally in my opinion.

For example right now I have no idea how I will be able to swallow DD!
M Snape if this is who Snape is.

BUT incredible as it is I will not put it past JKR if she would be 
able to **sell** DD!M Snape to me and make me happy at the end.

Do you know why? Because I already have the example of Dumbledore in 
front of me. I hated with passion his speech at the end of OOP. Not 
only I had doubts that I would be able to feel anything when he dies, 
I was thinking that the faster he dies, the better off Harry would be.

But JKR made me care for him again in HBP to the extent that I did 
cry when he died. ( Still want to slap him often) I consider it is an 
example of good writing on her 
behalf.

Now, granted I did not hate DD before HBP, so that would make it so 
much harder for JKR to please me if she goes with DD!M Snape, LOL, 
but I am just saying that it is *possible** that my emotional 
dissatisfaction would still translate into being happy with her 
writing.

To go back to McGonagall. If you were to tell me that her development 
makes no sense to you in terms of story, I would totally agree with 
you that it does constitute a bad writing, if it makes sense.

I just disagree with the argument that she should be developed more 
simply because she is a woman, again if that makes sense.

And actually I completely agree with you - I do not think that she 
has any disadvantages in terms of why she should not be trusted 
whatsoever.

Nevertheless, it makes perfect sense to me in terms of the story and 
it has nothing to do with Minerva and everything to do with 
Dumbledore.

His **need to know** basis, him having no confidante, etc. Do I think 
it is a good character trait in him? Nope, not at all, but I find 
this to be a very consistent characterisation of Dumbledore.

I think JKR wanted to develop him more than Minerva for the story and 
she serves as supporting player to showcast that character trait.

I also agree with kat that Dumbledore dear did not want his decisions 
challenged and that is another reason why he does not confide in 
Minerva much, since she was not keeping her mouth shut at Dursleys, 
etc.

JMO,

Alla