[HPforGrownups] Re: Hagrid the animal abuser/The uses of beasts in fables/ Draco and Hagrid

[Sherry Gomes]

No: HPFGUIDX 166207

Alla:

I think what matters is that these words were insulting for Buckbeak and
they really did struck me as **very** insulting. Now I read with interest
the discussion about writing about animals as humans in children books, and
I am not sure what I think about it yet, BUT I certainly think that
Hypoggrifs are portrayed as intelligent animals.

Oh, and about RL animals, I think what also matters here is tone. I
certainly see saying something insulting to animal, but in different tone,
if it makes sense.



Sherry:

This is something I know a great deal about, because it has everything to do
with how I work with my guide dog.  Voice inflection, body language, those
things matter far, far more than the words I say.  If I say, Oh Bianca you
are such a good girl, and I say that in an angry voice, no smile, angry
posture, she will not be wagging her tail and getting all silly.  On the
other hand--should I say paw--if I say, oh Bianca, you are such an ugly bad
girl in a high cutesy loving happy voice and I am acting affectionately, she
thinks I'm paying her compliments and gets all wiggly and happy.  It's the
same when I give her working commands.  If I want to tell her lie down, I
make the inflection of my voice go down, and if I want her to sit, I make it
go up.  When I ask her to go forward, the command is given in a confident
but questioning tone, as if I'm saying, please move ahead if it is safe to
do so, because in guide work, she may choose to disobey a command if it is
not safe.  She understands my tone and attitude far more than the dozens of
words I say.

I've always thought it was the same with Draco and Buckbeak.  Buckbeak
probably wouldn't have attacked if the tone was whatever he understood to be
respectful.  yeah, I realize he's a fictitious animal, so I don't understand
how he understands respect and attitude, but I've always assumed that was
the case.  Buckbeak *knew* that Draco's motives and attitude were insulting,
and didn't go on the exact words.  Of course, in a world where owls
understand language and know where to go with only a name, nothing surprises
me.

Sherry, whose silly guide dog is snoring beside her chair.