Red Herrings and Reconciliation

[estelle_clements]

No: HPFGUIDX 173590


I don't read the boards constantly, so I hope that I haven't 
repeated too many things...

I suppose a few things have been cycling through my mind the past 
week after reading the book. I have enjoyed the series to the end, 
and although I enjoyed the last book and knowing how it all turns 
out, I had a few points that I wondered if anyone else noticed?

  Not the least of which is whether JKR was thinking about (or 
rather criticizing) the 11 plus when Dumbledore says he thinks they 
sort too soon. This sort of realization that people can have latent 
gifts and talents and 11 is too young an age to be streaming. And 
really, the four houses provide a unique set up for streaming by 
supposed personality (a system I'm sure myers-briggs would be 
fascinated by
). But even though this spectre of doubt is cast on 
the streaming of children at 11, nothing is done about it- its not 
resolved, just sort of left hanging in the air. No one says, if we 
think of changing this sorting system, maybe we wouldn't create 
these huge divisions, maybe we could have reconciliation between the 
houses.
   (On another educational note- did anyone else think of Ofsted 
when they read about Umbridge in book 5?)  

   It seems that what has left me unsatisfied is lack of 
reconciliation in many areas of the book. That's life I suppose, we 
don't get to see everything reconcile neatly before our eyes, but I 
also feel that in art (such as writing) we like to be left with a 
clear notion that it has occurred, or at least that we can see 
definitive signs telling us that it will one day.

 We're left to wonder (assuming an afterlife)- will Lily forgive 
Snape in the afterlife, is there reconciliation between them? Is 
there reconciliation and forgiveness between he and the mauraders? 
(I know its JKR's book, not mine, but I wish I'd seen him show up 
with Lily MWPP when he calls them to walk with him to Voldemort, 
this could have very simply expressed reconciliation between all 
parties, and show the support between Harry and Snape as he has been 
so central to Harry's survival since book 1.) 

   The Slytherin's don't seem to experience a huge change- and 
you're left wondering, will this whole messy situation just occur 
again in 50 or 60 years time when people have started to forget
 (is 
that what we're supposed to think?)
 
 Considering G.Gryffindor and S. Slytherin used to be so close, it 
would have been nice to see some strong reconciliation between the 
two of them symbolically in the present
 
  
  I was given to understand from the sorting hat some time back that 
the four houses would have to work together, and you don't exactly 
get the impression that there's an even weighting of working 
together
 Almost all the Slytherin children leave (in fact they're 
ordered out first by Minerva) then some Ravenclaws, more Hufflepuffs 
and of course you can barely get the Gryffindors to leave
 Hardly an 
expression of everybody working together. Did I miss something, or 
was the sorting hat song a red herring?

I'm left wondering not only about minor characters (like Fudge, I 
always wondered what happened to him), but even the major ones (what 
do HRH do for a living now? And Ginny? It was a shame we didn't get 
to see her reach her potential in the battle at Hogwarts.) 

Also, what is the deal with non-verbal spells they were such a huge 
part of HBP
 Snape made such a huge deal out of them (practically 
saying Harry couldn't defeat the dark lord til he learned them) it's 
the last thing he tells Harry before the words `take it, take it, 
look at me.', and now, they're not even mentioned again- another red 
herring?

Overall though, as I said, I have really enjoyed the books, and I 
think that they've made a really interesting study in nature versus 
nurture. 

 I've really really enjoyed reading everyone's comments and ideas 
here.
    Thanks,
       Estelle (who is wondering how safe it is to have the deathly 
hallows all so close together at Hogwarts- especially as one of them 
is just sort of floating around the forbidden forest.)