[HPforGrownups] The two-way mirror - a cruel useless plot device

[Jeremiah LaFleur]

No: HPFGUIDX 163687

Maria

But I wonder... why? Why did Rowling
write the mirror into the story? It's not needed to make him feel
regrets or guilt, he already does that. It's not needed for any other
reason so far. And, if it appears again the Deathly Hallows, she could
have introduced the device into the story by other means, like part of
the things Harry inherited from Sirius.
==========================

Jeremiah:

Well, there are a lot of things that are useless in the stories but none,
IMO, that are so emotionally charged.
As others have noted: JKR says it's important in Book 7, however, there is a
more immediate and significant use for the mirror in OotP.

Rowling uses the mirror as a way to show that Harry plays the hero, forgets
that there are easier ways to solve problems and reacts emotionally rather
than intellectually. (Funny, isn't that what Snape shouts at him near the
end of HBP)? The mirror is a way to show us, and hopefully Harry, that he
must use his wit to win the battle. As it stood in OotP, Harry (and this it
my opinion, so, please, no shouting...)... sorry... Harry is a whiner and
all around moody dork in OotP. The mirror was supposed to cut him deeply
because of his own actions. He "should have" used the mirror. Harry would
have known the truth and nobody would have been hurt. Harry had choices and
he chose unwisely. That is the point of the mirror in OotP.

Sometimes things pop up that seem silly or useless, but there are
reasons for them that don't have to do with action but, rather, with
character development. I think that this was one of those objects in OotP.
If JKR uses it in Book 7 it may be for an entirely different reason.


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