Draco and Intent: Re: Snape and Harry’s Sadism (was: Lack of re-examination)

[montavilla47]

No: HPFGUIDX 186766

> > Betsy Hp:
> > No, because what was written fit the trope so well. I do agree that my personal experience led me in a different direction than JKR was meaning to direct me, but I wasn't completely ignoring the text.  I just interpreted it differently.
> > 
> 
> Pippin:
> It only fits the trope if you ignore the existence of Ron. I think a lot of people would like to do that, because while he works very well as a character in a book, he's not so much fun in a fantasy based on the book. I mean, when we used to play LOTR, nobody wanted to be Sam, and I think Ron has the same problem. Harry's the Chosen One, Hermione's the smartest witch ever, and Ron's just...Ron. He's not, y'know, cool. Shabby clothes, dumpy mom, weirdo dad, same old issues all the time, and when he does save the day, nobody's looking.  
>
> 
> Whereas redeemed characters get all the snide sarcastic lines, and  every knows that if  they  don't die they're bound to become the hero's blood-brother. Edmund is not supposed to be saved from the White Witch and go on being a pill. Except...why couldn't that happen?
> 

Montavilla47:

It's not like you have to chose between Ron and Draco (although, that is exactly what Harry did).  I mean, as a reader it's not like Harry couldn't eventually be friends with both of them.   

And, as far as Ron goes, he's the kind of character I absolutely love in a story.  I love characters who are modest and loyal and care less about being in the spotlight than in supporting their friends.  Of course, JKR makes Ron a bit different in that he wants to be in the spotlight, too, and has to struggle against his envy of his friend's celebrity.

Can't quite imagine Sam doing that in LOTR.  

But when you mention this sort of situation, what sprang to my mind was the first season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, in which the fashion-conscious, spectacularly attractive Buffy ends up lumped with the "uncool" Xander and Willow, rather than the Queen Bee Cordelia.  

But, by the end of the season, Cordelia and Buffy came to a tentatively friendly relationship.  While she never lost her snark, Cordelia remained part of the gang until they all graduated from school and she moved to L.A. to star on Angel.

As for the other two, Willow eventually grew out of her uncoolness, but Xander almost stubbornly refused to ever become more than average.  That was his greatness.  One of my favorite Xander moments is when he pragmatically comes and fixes Buffy's picture window that was broken by one of her epic vampire battles.