Lockhart's role Was: Re: CHAPTER DISCUSSION Chamber of Secrets Ch. 6

[annemehr]

No: HPFGUIDX 188840



--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "dumbledore11214" <dumbledore11214 at ...> wrote:

> 6. What is the purpose that dear Gilderoy served in the grand scheme of things in the Potterverse? Seriously, I had been thinking about it and decided that I am not sure. Quirrell had Voldemort in his head, Remus was connection to Harry's past, Fake!Moody was well, Voldemort's servant. Umbridge I supposed was oppression to fight against? Slugghorn also had connection to Tommy and thus the past. Gilderoy, well, I don't know? Is he just for laughs and for Harry to learn that vanity and lying for one's own sake is bed? Am I missing the bigger purpose here?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Alla
>

Annemehr:

This is a very interesting question!  You are right, Quirrell, Crouch!Moody and Slughorn played direct roles regarding the rise of Voldemort.

Umbridge, now, hmm...I think yes, her role is just as important in its own way in showing the breakdown of what is supposed to be the anti-criminal alliances; the weakness of government in a crisis - particularly as government attracts powermongers who won't and and indeed *can't* deal with a real threat to society.

On the other hand, Lockhart's place in the plot itself could have been filled by nearly anyone.  I can't think of anything that happened that he was essential for.  He was instead a handy redshirt who was used to advance the plot in certain ways that could just as easily been accomplished otherwise: to anger the snake Draco conjured in the dueling club, to introduce the concept of the memory charm, to cause the cave-in that made Harry continue to the Chamber alone, to name a few.

I just think, as the plot of this book did not involve any particular need of a particular DADA teacher, that Lockhart was, literarily, a chance for JKR to have a little fun with the DADA curse, and to contribute to the necessary general accumulation of frustration for Harry. 

I might even guess that he was just as important to JKR as a chance to poke fun at someone who drove her nuts as he was in his function in the book itself.

Though I couldn't say if even JKR knows that for sure.

Annemehr