[HPforGrownups] JKR, the female and facism (wasRe: WAS Slytherin as villains...

[Kemper]

No: HPFGUIDX 179096

>  Betsy Hp:
>  Actually, I'd say romance was quite dead within the series. But I
>  think that has to do with the fear of female sensuality. It's hard
>  to get romantic with something you think is out to kill you. <g>

Kemper now:
I'm not sure what you mean.
I'd say romance never really lived in the series for it to die.  And
thank God for that.

But as far as female sensuality is concerned, Ginny seems comfortable
in her sensuality and sexuality.  Her brother, iirc, seems to imply
she's a slut to some degree which she seems to infer and fiercely
defend.
It is a small scene (to tired to search for canon) but it struck me
and stuck with me.  Also, iirc, Ginny is the one in control of her
flings.  She is always the one doing the dumping and emasculating at
least one of her exes.

Once he kisses Ginny, he seems comfortable with her sensuality and
hopeful with her sexuality.  But again, it is thankfully short lived.
Perhaps JKR has no interest in writing romance but it seemed the
natural thing to incorporate into characters of that age.  Romance is
absent in the first few books, her characters are young.

>  > >>lizzyben:
>  > <snip>
>  > But Eco mentioned one other element that just made my jaw drop: in
>  > fascist societies, people are trained to become "heroes", and
>  > choosing death is seen as the most heroic act of all.
>  > <snip>
>
>  Betsy Hp:
>  This was a fascinating post, lizzyben. And I think it ties into what
>  I found to be one of the oddest juxtaposes of the series. In HBP,
>  when I thought JKR was telling a completely different story, we have
>  two women appear at Snape's house. ... One has come to ... save Draco's life
>  The other states ... that Draco should be proud to die for his cause.
>
>  At the time, I thought the "good mother" choice rather obvious. The
>  woman trying to save her son was the better woman. But then, in DH,
>  Lily, the perfect mother, and as far as I can tell, proves me wrong.
>
>  "Lily's smile was the widest of all. She pushed her long hair back
>  as she drew close to him, and her green eyes, so like his, searched
>  his face hungrily, as though she would never be able to look at him
>  enough."
>  "You've been so brave." [DH scholastic ed. p.699]
>
>  And so a mother sends her son off to certain death. And is she ever
>  proud that he's willing to die for his cause. That Lily is herself
>  dead is probably a help. I mean, the sooner Harry dies, the sooner
>  Lily will see him again. But it's an odd position for a mother to
>  take.
>
>  ... Lily, by being proud that Harry's heading off to die, is the
>  better mother. Which, yeah, I find a bit odd and not a little
>  perverse.

Kemper now:
I see Lily more as Mother Mary in this scene.  It is what I imagine
she would say to her son as he carried his cross.  (I'm not trying to
equate a Harry is Jesus thing)  Lily and Mary don't send their son off
to die, their sons have chosen this.

Harry dieing to save others is different than Draco dieing to serve Voldemort.

I don't think Lily anticipates Harry's death as she looks at him
hungrily (a word which I find to be a bit perverse but whatever) as
though she will soon starve from the sustaining food that is the sight
of her son.

Kemper