Build-An-Author a new canon game

[lizzyben04]

No: HPFGUIDX 178568

Potioncat:

> I suggest a new game!
> 
> Where do authors get their characters? I've heard (but don't recall 
> where) that authors put a bit of themselves into their characters. With 
> that in mind, we should be able to see hints of the characters in JKR, 
> or hints of her in them. If we gathered enough characters and somehow 
> merged them together, would we have Jo?
> 
> Which character sometimes reminds you of JKR? Or, Does JKR ever display 
> traits of one of her characters? Cite canon or at least refer to it. No 
> characters off limits this round.
> 
> Potioncat, who has compartmentalized all deep, dark thoughts about DH 
> into a tidy little box and hid it behind tasseled shawls, poufs, and 
> pictures of too cute kittens.


lizzyben:

Well, here's my list & you did say no one was off limits!

- Snape - Vindictive & petty, unable to get over past grudges,
oversensitive to perceived slights & injuries - leading to elaborate
plans for revenge. Snape's also the representation of grief, and of
endless, hidden, mourning for a lost loved one. JKR's shadow side.

- Dumbledore - Puppetmaster!JKR. Moving characters around in order to
fulfill their mission & getting frustrated that they keep following
their own motivations instead. Putting everyone in place for the grand
plan, that falls apart in the end. Visionary, creative, cold. 

- Hermione - JKR's self-insert, of who she actually was as a teenager.
Intelligent, swottish, insecure, loyal to her friends.

- Ginny - JKR's idealized vision of who she *wishes* she was as a
teenager. The shy quiet girl who suddenly becomes beautiful, witty,
strong, popular, totally self-confident & kick-ass.

- Luna Lovegood - a dreamer who lives up inside her own head, making
up impossible stories about magical creatures & not paying attention
in chemistry class.
 
- Umbridge - Yep, sorry. Umbridge feels justified in inflicting
painful punishments because she feels the student deserved it for not
supporting the Ministry. JKR feels justified in inflicting painful
punishments on Marietta & Zacharias, because she feels the characters
deserve it for not supporting Harry.

- Merope - represents the fear of being a "bad mother" or an incapable
mother. Merope is the only single mother in the series, & she arrived
in London in much the same state that JKR arrived in Edinburgh. Both
were part of a whirlwind marriage that ended within a year, & both
arrived in Britain totally broke, unemployed, poor and desperate. In
addition, Merope's story seems connected to the fear of childbirth, as
JKR was herself pregnant when HBP was written. IMO, that's the only
way to make sense of DD's comment that Merope died in childbirth
because she was weak & cowardly, & didn't love her child enough.

- Lily Potter/Molly Weasley - the "good mother" or idealized mother,
who totally devotes herself to her children.

- Tonks/Bellatrix Lestrange - "obsessive love" yet again. Both women
are motivated almost entirely by their love for a person who does not
love them back. I'm sorry, there's *someone* JKR can't get over. The
figure of obsessive love is defeated in the end by the figure of good
maternal love.  

- Voldemort - represents her fear of death; named "flight from death",
who can't accept the idea of mortality & doesn't believe in an
afterlife. Creates "Death Eaters", who will prevent death from
occurring. LV is basically obsessed with avoiding death. "Flight from
death" is defeated in the end by "master of death", who does accept
his own mortality.

- Quirrel - fear of domination & control by another. Gullible young
person who leaves Britain to "see the world" & is instead seduced by a
malevolent figure. Extremely anxious, nervous, afraid. Representation
of one who has lost their own self & is instead dominated by a
threatening, controlling figure. A metaphor for domestic abuse.

- Gryffindor - Idealized self - Bravery, nobility, strength, power,
true love, good mothers & happy families. Raised to the top tower,
shown to the world.

- Slytherin - Shadow self - Ambition, cunning, bad mothers & obsessive
love compartmentalized to a deep dark dungeon and hidden under the
lake. Slytherin as the subconscious & shadow side.


I think almost every character is some aspect of the author herself.
This is arguably true of all literature, but "Harry Potter" more than
most. The series is ultimately very dream-like, like we're wandering
through JKR's psyche. IMO, that's what gives the narrative so much
power & resonance, and that's also what makes it feel so dangerous in
some ways. IMO, HP could be seen as a Gothic novel. Typically the
Gothic novel will feature some huge rambling mansion that is a symbol
of the owner's own mind. I think Hogwarts castle is a representation
of JKR's own mind, and all the people, places, fears & hopes she finds
there. (Disclaimer: All of the above is just IMO!)

lizzyben