Character Development

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 179155

 
> 
> Alla:
> 
> I take it we are restricting ourselves to minor characters here or 
at least those that started as minor?

Potioncat:
I was thinking along that line, but if someone has something to say 
about the JKR's skill at developing a particular character over the 
course of the series that would be good.


> Alla:
> I will tell you one thing. I can and was intrigued by some of the 
> minor characters or the characters that started as minor, but for 
> such thing to happen the character has to really do something, or 
at 
> least I have to hear from somebody else that character did 
something.

Potioncat:
Although Selwyn doesn't interest me, he is a good example of what JKR 
does well. She introduces him rather smoothly during LV's pursuit of 
Harry. I think he may appear once more. But his name's main role is 
for us to understand what Umbridge is doing when she says her locket 
shows her connection to the Selwyns. We know what kind of people the 
Selwyns are; we know know the locket does no such thing; and we 
probably doubt she has such connections.


>Alla: 
> I do not get intrigued if character's name mentioned and that's it, 
I 
> usually could care less about "name only" characters.

Potioncat:
Is there a literary law or rule of thumb about naming characters? 
Many of us thought that if a character was named, he would be 
important at some point. Remember the furry-faced patient in the ward 
at St. Mungo's? Her name was Agnes. The list put forth some effort to 
determine what her role might have been and who her son was. It seems 
her real role was to deflect our attention from the Healer and Bode's 
plant. Although I'm not fully certain that JKR didn't forget that 
Snape's mother's name was Agnes, not Eileen.


>Alla: 
> So, the information on the website about Theo peeked my curiosity 
> indeed, I wanted to meet him and get to know him. I was especially 
> intrigued that JKR seems to think of him as loner, and while I was 
> never particularly attached to the "good Slytherin" idea, I 
certainly would not mind him to be one.

Potioncat:
Exactly. He seemed to be emphasized a few times in addition to having 
the little bit of information on the web site. So it looked like he 
was being introduced for a purpose. I even worried about him as he 
left Hogwarts after his father was injured.


>Alla: 
> Funnily, when JKR mentioned Sirius in book first it sooo went off 
my 
> radar and I was not curious much to find out more about him.
> 
> Dean Thomas' story actually did not interest me much for some 
reason.

Potioncat:
I think "young Black" was one reason so many fans began to really 
study the books. We found out there were clues and 
foreshaddowings...pretty soon every "if and or but" became important.
> 

> Alla:
> After I read Elkins' Crouch novella long time ago, I did realize 
that 
> I should have been intrigued about them, so much depth she 
discovered 
> in those characters, but I don't know, I just was not much.

Potioncat:
Do you mean her many posts about them? or was there one particular 
essay? She had come up with a most fascinating story for them.

>Alla: 
> LOVE your threads as always.

Potioncat:
Thank you!