Veterans Suffering, was Re: CHAPDISC: 34, The Forest Again.

[lizzyben04]

No: HPFGUIDX 185070

> > Ceridwen:
> > Ginny, Ron and Hermione, together with Harry our core 
group "Nineteen
> > Years Later," all fought in the war, too.  They didn't face 
Voldy, but
> > they faced other DEs as intent on killing them as Voldy was on 
killing
> > Harry.  It might just as easily be Harry soothing Ginny's nerves, 
or
> > Ron and Hermione reassuring each other.
> >
> > With St. Mungo's level of physical care, there would have been 
very
> > few visible scars - only the ones from Dark Magic would remain.

<snip> 
> Shelley:
> I could see if a twing of a memory occured- Harry seeing a child 
and 
> thinking he looked (or acted) a lot like the young Colin Creevy, or 
another 
> one that was killed, and feeling that momentary guilt or saddness 
of regret. 
> It's what that scene lacks- a momentary rememberance of one lost.


lizzyben:

IIRC, the last line of the epilogue was originally "Only those who 
loved him could see his scar." Which would at least be a *hint* of 
green, suggesting that war wounds do not heal & there is an 
underlying sadness or rememberance even in times of joy. And that 
many veterans do have internal scars that can only be seen by those 
they love. OK, it still wouldn't be a veteran story, but at least it 
would even just suggest that everything isn't happy, happy, perfect 
families! after a major civil war. As it is, the "all is well" is 
just awful, sort of erasing any suggestion of lingering pain or scars 
at all. "All is Well!" It's like Rowling couldn't bear even a hint of 
shadow in her happy epilogue - so it ended up just shallow & slightly 
creepy.

As to why she's bringing up this "veteran-theme" now, IMO it's 
probably a response to fan criticism. Sometimes I could swear that 
Rowling is a member of HPFGU. *looks around furtively*. People 
criticized the Slytherins leaving before the final battle & suddenly 
Rowling says they came back. When DH was released, some fans compared 
the ending unfavorably to LOTR in terms of its treatment of veterans 
of war - about how Tolkein actually was a veteran & included a long 
chapter about what the heros did after the big battle; to recover, to 
save their own hometown, & to become leaders in the community. And 
Frodo, of course, never healed completely. Whereas in DH, it's just 
like the big battle ended & everything went back to (dsyfunctional) 
norm. And Harry's happy! And everyone had lots of kids! Now Rowling 
says there was a veteran-theme all along? OK then. The way she's 
bringing this up only now definitely makes me think that it's a 
response to criticism she's read on various fan sites. In other 
words - it's spin. 


lizzyben