CHAPDISC: DH, EPILOGUE

[montavilla47]

No: HPFGUIDX 185383

Montavilla47:

Thanks, Laura for the synopsis and questions!


> 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?

I think she wanted to show that Harry had put his tragic past 
behind him and was a good father with the quiet life and loving 
family that he always wanted.


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

I never heard that particular complaint.  I suppose it is, but
then, the whole story is heteronormative.  We could also complain
about the lack of people of color in the epilogue.


> 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?

Not much.

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

But there was a difference that preceded Voldemort's reign of terror.
The Hat had been sorting for personality traits for a thousand years.
This, apparently, is how things ought to be in the wizarding world.


> 5. How do the Potter and Weasley children demonstrate JKR's belief
> that personality traits are hereditary?

I notice that Little Lily seems to be the image of Ginny who is the 
image of Lily the first.  Rose appears to have inherited Hermione's
smarts--and Ron actively tries to boost the same academic rivalry 
that Hermione and Draco engaged in.

James seems to have inherited his grandfather James's "teasing"
gene, while Albus takes after Harry in being nervous in new 
social situations.


> 6. What is JKR suggesting by naming Draco's son Scorpius?

The only association I got from the name is to the stars and
the astrological sign.  So, all it suggests to me is that Draco
is continuing the Black family tradition of naming children
after stars.

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

I got more that Harry was seeing himself as Sirius than Teddy.  


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

Almost.  But I think that Snape was *the* bravest man that 
Harry had ever known, not *probably* the bravest.

> 9. In SS, the Sorting Hat considers putting Harry in Slytherin
> because, among his other traits, Harry has "a nice thirst to prove
> yourself" (SS 121).  We know that when Voldemort attempted to curse
> Harry, he inadvertently created a connection between Harry and
> himself.  Do you think that any of Harry's personality or behavior
> was influenced by this bit of Voldemort?  If so, would Harry have
> changed after the piece of Voldemort's soul was gone from his own
> soul?

That's a really interesting idea.  It didn't seem very developed in the 
books, though.

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

My guess?  Socks.

Montavilla47