Dueling was Re: Harry's Characterization

[Stacey Nunes-Ranchy]

No: HPFGUIDX 163494



bboyminn wrote:
<snip>
I have already acknowledged that it will not be Harry's
dueling skills that matter /in the end/, but we are not
/in the end/, we are, in a sense, at the beginning. 

Also, remember that Dueling is only one of the many 
magical skills that Harry needs to win the day. He also
needs to find, gather, and destroy the Horcruxes and 
he is thoroughly UNequiped to do so. He needs magical
detections skills, he needs curse breaking skills, and
it is going to take time to learn those. 
<snip>

 

Stacey now:

(Apologizing profusely for  1) interrupting a very interesting discussion,
2)assuming this point hasn't already been made without a mad search of the
archives and 3) changing the subject slightly)..

Bboymin's post brought to mind a thought about dueling in the wizarding
world.  I wonder if during a true battle (i.e. the MOM scene in OotP, the
battle at Hogwarts in HBP and what we might expect in the DH) dueling even
has a place.  Perhaps it is just semantics but to me, the idea of dueling
actually has this GentleWizard/ GentleWitch connotation about it with large
amounts of formalities that one usually forgoes in the midst of battle for
dominance, murder or protection from either.  Dueling in my mind conjures
images of fair play, decorum and honor all things that I would imagine being
seen as a complete waste of time during any of the great battles.  If my
memory is not too clouded by the images of the movie, in the cemetery scene
in GOF, Voldemort does tend to the niceties of a duel but IMO this is only
to patronize Harry and further humiliate him before (what Voldermort thinks
will be) Harry's demise.  It seems to me that this toying with Harry was
part of the reason Harry was able to escape (with some much needed help from
his parents of course) and I doubt that Voldemort will make the same mistake
twice.

 

In short, I do not believe that dueling will have any part in what will
certainly amount to the most vicious and deadly (deathly?) of battles we
shall ever "witness" in the books.  

 

Stacey (who's currently enjoying her first read of the series in French but
is missing the wittier plays on words of the English Version)



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