[CHAPDISC: DH, EPILOGUE

[Miles]

No: HPFGUIDX 185347

kneazlecat54 wrote:
> CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Epilogue

Thank you for your Synopsis and questions!

> 1.  Authors sometimes conclude novels with a chapter telling readers
> what happened to the characters after the action of the book
> concludes (see, for instance, Middlemarch and David Copperfield).
> JKR chose not to do that, instead using post-publication interviews
> to let us know the stories of the people in canon.  In writing the
> epilogue, then, she must have had something specific she wanted to
> achieve or communicate.  What do you think that was?

Miles
I'm among those who are still very unhappy about the Epilogue, because it's 
not enough, and too sweet for my taste.
"All is well." Everyone lives in a happy classical family, everyone married 
their first love, all the kids are like kids should be (but not nasty).
The House rivalry is not more than that, even Slytherin is "ok", although 
kids are still warned to beware of the big bad wol... snake.
The wizarding society we saw in the books was rotten to the core. It could 
not possibly be healed within 19 years. What we see indicates, that JKR 
never really thought that through, the political corruptness seemed to be 
merely a plot device.
Enough for a children's book?

> 2. One of the complaints about the epilogue is that it is
> heteronormative.  Is that a fair critique?

Miles:
Not really. The whole book shows us a classical family ideal, why not in the 
Epilogue? We had our gay character ;).

> 3. James and Albus have very low opinions of Slytherin House, despite
> their parents' attempt to teach them otherwise.  They are firmly
> attached to Gryffindor.  What, then, do you think has changed in the
> relations among houses and the reputations of the various houses in
> nineteen years?

Miles:
I'm not sure it's not different, we haven't got too much information. My 
impression is, that it's a bit like two antoganised football clubs, who used 
to have hooligan wars in the 70ies, but now the fans just call the others 
names. The rivalry still exists, but it's civilised.

> 4. If there is no difference (at least officially) among houses, why
> is there still a Sorting Hat?

Miles:
The Houses still exist, and they still fulfill their role as a family for 
the students. Why abandon the Hat? Voldemort wanted to put away with it, 
maybe that's reason enough not to.

> 7. How do you think Harry feels about Teddy Lupin?  Does he see
> himself in Remus and Tonks's son?

Miles:
Again, we do not have much canon. I would think it's the obvious thing for 
Harry to give Teddy what he never had after his parent's death: a real 
family, love, warmth, security.

> 8. Do you agree with Harry's opinion of Snape?

Miles:
Yes, he was a brave man. Ok, not a nice man, but brave enough to risk and 
give his live for the right thing. And, everything that was dislikable in 
Snape we saw through Harry's eyes. Why trust his judgement as a kid and 
teenager instead of his judgement as an adult?

> 10. What would Harry see if he looked once more into the Mirror of
> Erised?

Miles:
I doubt he would see himself as the man he is. There's some bitterness under 
the thick sweet cover - I think Harry would see some people he loved and 
lost among his living family. But still, his family would surround him in 
the mirror.