The Problem of Evil

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 164096

> Betsy Hp wrote in
> <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/163921>:
> << That so many readers think Dumbledore *wanted* Harry to go
> through the trap door in PS/SS proves my point. There's no way to
> explain a Dumbledore willing to put a child to that sort of risk
> without allowing for a certain amount of monstrosity in his
> character. But that version of the events in PS/SS, Harry's version,
> still stands. JKR needs to shoot it down. IMO, anyway. >>

> >>Catlady:
> Many readers perceive that many of Harry's experiences were set-ups,
> and some think it was Dumbledore who set them up. In general, I    
> think it was Rowling who set them up, and some of the Puppetmaster!
> DD folks disagree with me by saying that Rowling is too good a     
> writer to allow her authorial hand to be so clearly seen           
> manipulating the characters.

Betsy Hp:
I agree that the master manipulater is JKR.  Though I don't think 
she's too creaky with it.  It seems to me that characters tend to act 
in character.  It's just moments of timing that sometimes seem 
lucky.  (e.g. Harry et al doing their school shopping the exact same 
day and time as Draco in HBP.)  But that's a hard type of 
manipulation to work around.

> >>Catlady:
> But actually it was that word 'monstrosity' that bit me. It's that 
> old Problem of Evil again. If DD set it up, he has a monstrous     
> streak. If the author set it up, she's cruel to the characters.    
> *She* knows Harry's life will not be lost in the trapdoor quest,   
> but she has already killed his parents and subjected him to those   
> Dursleys. And if we view Real Life, its Author has supplied Famine, 
> Pestilence, Tsunami, schizophrenia, and heartbreak (just as         
> examples). 

Betsy Hp:
Heh, yeah I'm not touching the "does God allow evil" with a barge 
pole, thanks.  But as to authors... A good author *must* be cruel to 
their characters, otherwise there's no story.  And the more gifts an 
author bestows upon their character the more cruel she must be.  
Harry doesn't get his good looks, athletic ability and perfect skin 
for free. 

An author can slip into character torture wherein the angst gets just 
a bit out of hand, but in general the hero must suffer. And the 
reader can feel free to totally agonize with the hero and hate all 
that challenge him.  But if all we read about was handsome Harry and 
his perfect life... well, honestly I doubt we'd ever read it.  Far 
too insufferable. <g>

Betsy Hp