Ghosts

[geoffbannister123 at btinternet.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 189568

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Joey Smiley" <happyjoeysmiley at ...> wrote:

Joey:
 
> << I don't think [Binns] wanted to show off or pretend to know. In fact, I wonder if he *wanted* to do anything at all. (snip) He does not mean to teach though, I agree. He doesn't seem to have any goal at all, actually. >>
> 
Catlady:
> >> That may be related to him being a ghost. Sir Nicholas is a ghost with an ambition, to be admitted into the Headless Horsemen club, and Moaning Myrtle's ambition was to harass Olive Hornsby, but changed to having living people feel sorry for her. Still, it may be that ambition and goals are uncommon among ghosts. Maybe he used to have a goal but it went on the next great adventure with his soul, and was not left behind in the imprint his departed soul left on this world (DADA teacher Snape's definition of a ghost). 
 
Joey:
 
> When I think of Bloody Baron, Helena Ravenclaw, Myrtyle and Peeves, I do agree that they do come across as aimless. Ghosts can't use spells but that should not matter as they can't eat, sleep, drink or even die. They can talk and so, can go for suitable employment. So, from that perspective, Binns educating students is probably pretty ambitious for a ghost. Nick and Friar seem to only socialize a lot than work. Yet this is better when compared to the sulking Myrtyle or Helena and pestering Peeves.

Geoff:
A couple of points occur to me.

Peeves is *not* a ghost.

He is a poltergeist. Therefore he can affect material things around him:

"He (Peeves) would drop waste-paper baskets on your head, pull rugs
from under your, pelt you with bits of chalk or sneak up behind you, 
invisible feet, grab your nose and screech, 'GOT YOUR CONK!' 
(PS "ThePotions Master" UK edition p.98);  

whereas the ghosts are incorporeal, the only effect they seem to have 
is to give you a nasty shock if they glide through you.

JKR's first comment about Binns is:

"Easily the most boring lesson was History of Magic, which was the only 
class taught by a ghost. Professor Binns had been very old indeed when
he had fallen asleep in front of the staff-room fire and got up next morning
to teach, leaving his body behind him."
(ibid. p.99)

This does actually make him slightly different to the other ghosts in that 
his existence seems to be quite ordered. However, I do get the feeling 
that a ghost's behaviour is partly related to their life experiences. As 
examples, Nearly Headless Nick seems to be obsessed with the fact that 
he wasn't beheaded totally which affects his relationship with the Headless 
Hunt and Myrtle is similarly tied in with her death - but they don't obsess 
to a set timetable.

Perhaps Binns is like some teachers whom I had at school or as colleagues
who lived and breathed teaching and seemed to have no life outside the 
classroom.