Build-An-Author a new canon game

[AmanitaMuscaria]

No: HPFGUIDX 178603

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "lizzyben04" <lizzyben04 at ...> 
wrote:
>
> Potioncat:
> 
> > I suggest a new game!
<<big snippity -thanks for starting this thread! AM> > 
> > 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
>

AmanitaMuscaria now - Me too! I'll play! (jumping up and down and 
waving her hand)
Interesting observations above, all very valid. I particularly like 
your Hogwarts catch! Put me in mind of Gormenghast trilogy - Mervyn 
Peake... and whoever mentioned about JKR hiding behind her hair being 
echoed by Snape ...!

I'll put in Aberforth.
The shadowy figure in the background, we weren't sure who he was, but 
holding this vast sorrow within himself (ok, his was about his 
sister). Then, in the last book, he's allowed finally to talk about 
his emotions, which Harry wonders if he's ever spoken about to 
_anyone_ before? He harbours resentments for the brother (outer self) 
who copes with the world and manages/manipulates people and is seen 
as successful, he hides a world (Hogwarts entrance) behind a portrait 
of a loved one, he defends those he can whilst projecting an 'I don't 
care' front ... and I'm not going to say anything at all about goats.
Cheers, AmanitaMuscaria