Slytherins come back WAS: Re: My Most Annoying Character

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 180410

> Montavilla47:
> 
> Not to argue against the ultimate irrelevance of the House Unity
> theme, because, well, you were right, weren't you?  It *was*
> irrelevant... but it seems to me that there was more to it than
> one song.  
> 
> There was, to begin with, the story of the Founders, that seemed
> to me to be an ongoing story.  That is, the loss of Slytherin as 
> a founder seemed to me a story that cried out for resolution,
> especially since the last descendent of Slytherin was such a 
> horror.  
> 
> Also, there was the rallying that took place at the end of 
> GoF, when Dumbledore told Fudge that the Wizarding World
> needed to unite with other species to fight against Voldemort.
> 
> While that didn't specifically include all humans, including 
> the Slytherins as humans, it seemed strongly implied to me.
> 
> Of course, I got it wrong, but that was the moment that
> really pulled me into the series.  It seemed incredibly 
> important--and that it would drive the series from that
> point onwards.
> 
> Heh.  Looking back on it now, I can't believe what a 
> fool I was--since that moment was contradicted by the
> whole of OotP (barring the Sorting Hat Song).  Instead 
> of reaching out, the Order actually got more and more
> insular as time went on.


Well yeah I was right and was very pleased about it. Look, I was 
major wrong on Snape and to the extent wrong about Dumbledore and I 
still loved last book, so yeah I was pleased to be right about 
something.

But the thing is even if JKR decided to go for House unity, I would 
still be able to enjoy the book had it been written well. It is 
again the effect of arguing this topic for years and seeing some 
good arguments that I warmed up to it.

But when I see the arguments that OMG it was a predominant theme in 
the books and JKR dropped it and that is why she is such a bad 
writer, well my only answer is that no it was not.

**You**  ( generic you) thought it was a major theme in the books, 
**you** ( generic you) misread the clues, what does it have to do 
with JKR's skill as a writer?

If you misread what story writer is telling, how this is the 
measurement of writer's skill if she did not deliver what you ( 
generic you) thought she would be delivering?

And again, I know that not everybody is disappointed because JKR did 
not deliver what they wanted them to deliver, I know many people did 
not have specific expectations and just did not like the way plot 
developed. But it is not like I am doing mind reading  in this 
specific thread people are saying that because house unity was not 
delivered and they did not see it, etc.


Now you (specific you now :)) brought up some moments that you 
thought were clues of House unity. Honestly, story of the founders 
never cried out for any resolution in house unity for me.

I took it for what it was IMO. That they were best friends, but one 
of them if we look at him in the most favorable light went crazy and 
decided that muggleborn kids should not be allowed in Hogwarts, 
that's all.

I agree that end of GoF was call for unity, but IMO call for unity 
between the countries, not between the houses.

I also never thought that Slytherins were prejudiced against. Oh 
dear I thought – if the little bastard Malfoy will turn out to be 
really misunderstood,  that would be weird.

Basically even when I warmed up to House unity ( not thinking that 
this is necessarily going to happen, but just reading arguments for 
it), I thought Slytherins will still have to deny their ideology.

I thought that if author will go for it, the maximum we will see is 
that Slytherins have some good qualities NOT that what we already 
saw will turn out to be good. Probably because I wanted to strangle 
Malfoy every time he opened his mouth or did something and could not 
figure out how the heck what he did could turn out to be in any way 
admirable.



So, again when you are saying that this was the moment that pulled 
you in the series, I understand that, but I guess I cannot 
understand how this translates in author lacking skill if you were 
the one who misread the clues, you know? I mean you are certainly 
not a fool – I thought that Snape was evil traitor, I thought 
Dumbledore would never tell Snape to kill him and I am not calling 
myself a fool, heheh.

I mean, again I can sympathize to a degree , I can sympathize with 
the emotional reaction if something you wanted did not happen, but I 
cannot sympathize with condemnation of the writer if she did not 
deliver what you think she would be delivering. I am not saying that 
you condemn her, but I had seen that many times.


I mentioned it in the past – I really was disappointed in the ending 
of Pulman's books. I do not want to reread the ending. But it will 
never enter my mind to call Pullman a bad writer. I mean, I could 
not pull the books down, why would I call him a bad writer?

Same here – if somebody is saying that story was a page turner, but 
it was so bad, I find it strange.

JMO,

Alla