JKR's Intent - epilogue

[lizzyben04]

No: HPFGUIDX 178775

> > >>Magpie:
> > > No, I think she means the default assumption is that what's
> > > actually on the page is what's actually in the story. Hermione   
> > > could have become the Israeli Prime Minister for all we know, but 
> > > it's not in the story because it's not on the page so that's not 
> > > the ending she was written. Hermione doing anything whatsoever in 
> > > her professional life is not part of the epilogue. The ending    
> > > written on the page is that she has babies.
> 
> > >>zgirnius:
> > Hermione marrying a totally impoverished, and less smart, and less
> > ambitious, and less magically talented Ron, and having babies, seems
> > to call for someone in that family to have a career.
> > <snip>


lizzyben:

I think the point is that it doesn't matter what their jobs are. We're
all free to assume that HRH have careers, but that wasn't included in
the epilogue, because it doesn't matter. Instead, we learn about their
marriages & their families, & most especially their children. Because
family is what matters, not careers or professional success. This
follows through a theme that has been present throughout the series -
evil Slytherins care about ambition & success, using "any means" to
achieve their goals. "Slytherin loved those of great ambition"
"power-hungry Slytherin." This kind of ambition or desire for power is
always presented as a bad thing. In contrast, Gryffindors like Arthur
Weasley give up professional success, & Percy gives up his ambition &
desire for power to rejoin his family. 

In his Sorting ceremony, the hat tells Harry that he could be great,
very great, if he enters Slytherin. But Harry turns down that chance
to join his friends in Gryffindor. He chooses family & friends over
greatness & success, thereby choosing good over evil. In the end of
DH, Harry gives up the Elder Wand, which offers greatness & power, to
retrieve his old wand instead. Again, he shows that has no ambition
for power, thereby showing his goodness. 

This theme is simply continued in the epilogue. We learn about Harry's
family and friends, because that's what matters, and that's what
brings him happiness. We learn about Hermione's husband and children,
because that's what's important to her - not her ambition or career
success. Only a Slytherin would care more about career than family.
IIRC, the original epilogue actually traced the next 20 years
of marriages & children, showing the rise of the Noble House
of Weasley. Because family is what's truly important. IMO, that theme
was one the major reasons for the epilogue. And that's why it doesn't
include any information about the Trio's jobs, careers or professional
success.

Janet:

> While I understand and agree with her idea of publishing it for charity,
> those true fans that have been with her for many years will be greatly
> disappointed at not getting a chance to see this snippet of Harry's
world.


lizzyben:

I bet a carpet book version will show up soon enough!