Depression (was Re: DH reread CH 31

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 187490

 
> Alla:
> 
> Shakes head at herself. You (and Potioncat) are absolutely right. Talk about reading in the book what one wants to read. I mean, it is not that I even forgot that one, it is just in my head 'I wish I were dead" transformed into Snape being suicidal.
> 
> I still think that it is a valid reading, but I totally agree that it is an inference and not plain reading of canon.


Potioncat:
In the ABC-TV interview that recently ran in the US, JKR and the interviewer discuss how depression played a role in the evolution of the HP story. JKR says the plot was strongly affected by her mother's death. Also, that she dealt with depression after the break-up of her marriage. She worried about her daughter's well being while she was depressed.

The Dementors represent depression's effects, but JKR also shows characters in the throws of depression. In the case of Dementors, a character needed a happy thought and to a certain degree, a patron/protector to overcome "depression."

In Snape's case, having a mission-- a purpose-- helped pull him out of drepression. Would you say that's a fair statement? Yet, having a child wasn't enough to pull Merope out of her depression. Any thoughts on that?

(I don't for a moment think having a baby is a cure for depression in RL. Just wondering how JKR was viewing it from a literary angle.)