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

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 188851


Pippin:
He shows that amorality isn't necessarily wedded to a lust for power or the
practice of the dark arts. Gilderoy isn't seeking world domination and he
couldn't curse his way out of a paper bag. He just wants to be famous and sell
lots of books.

In a sense he paves the way for Crouch Sr and other characters who are staunchly
anti-Dark Arts and yet either amoral or morally conflicted.

Alla:
Let me rephrase the question then. Are you saying that in the person of Lockhart this is the lesson Harry learns? Why do you think Harry needed to learn that lesson? How did it help him in the grand scheme of things in the Potterverse? Indeed as Annemehr says I do not see what in the plot could not have been accomplished without Lockhart being there. Do you see it? CoS to me seems to be a pretty important book as an excurse in Tom's past if nothing else, none of it would have been different but for Lockhart, no?

And in what ways do you think Lockhart prequels Crouch Sr.? Are you saying that we are witnessing a change from amoral teacher who is not into Dark arts to amoral official who is not into Dark arts? If that's what you are saying could you please clarify why  Crouch Sr. is amoral in your opinion?  He stroke me as moral in some ways (love for his wife) and completely immoral in so many other ways, but amoral? Amoral means not concerned with morality in either positive or negative ways, right? Just disregarding it completely?

Annemehr:
<SNIP>
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.

Alla:
See, yes, the fact I am having problems placing Lockhart's as something important within seven books narrative is what making me lean towards your POV. But if she brought Lockhart in specifically to poke fun at RL person, sigh it strikes me as a bit pathetic. I will be the first one to say that I have no problem when writer uses RL people as inspiration for their creations, in fact to me good writer observes people and often does that, combines qualities of several people in one, or sometimes just shows a part of RL person in the character. But when I look at Snape for example and think about her using that teacher as inspiration, I have zero problem with it simply because I have no problem seeing Snape's place in the overall narrative and if she wants to make him based on somebody RL, well, sure, why not, she needs him for the story anyway. Lockhart on the other side? I do not know why she needed him and while I cannot get in her head of course, your explanation seems plausible to me.


JMO,

Alla