Chapter Discussion: Goblet of Fire Ch 3: The Invitation

[Rebecca]

No: HPFGUIDX 191369



--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "pippin_999" <foxmoth at ...> wrote:


> 1. Sugar-free treats seem an odd gift for someone complaining about diet food. What was Hermione thinking?

Becks3uk: I think this was alluding to the fact that Hermione's parents were dentists. She probably eats them all the time when she is home and it's probably what she has access to free of charge. Poor Harry though – sugar free treats have terrible laxative properties!

> 2. We learn that it took Errol five days to recover from delivering the Weasley's care package to Harry. Is it fair for the Weasleys to overwork their owl, even though he's evidently willing?

Becks3uk: I felt sorry for Errol but the Weasleys are wizarding folk and I think in the wizarding world, owls are seen as a commodity. I don't think they are bad people, it's a societal thing - it probably seems natural to keep working their owls until they literally can't do it anymore. Though their treatment of Errol makes me a little uncomfortable, I don't think the Weasleys are cruel.  They could not afford to replace him but there is no alternative postal system for wizards. They were probably limiting his journeys but felt that Harry's need was important enough.

> 3. The Weasleys attempts to show consideration for the Dursleys backfire, arguably causing more offense than if they hadn't bothered. Are there other instances in canon where naive attempts to show consideration aren't appreciated?

Becks3uk: Pretty much any interaction with the Dursleys. In HBP Dumbledore tried to be nice to them; he offered them drinks which they did not take. Even in DH Dedalus Diggle attempts to flatter them by being all `impressed' by the fact Vernon Dursley could drive a car, which just made Vernon lose confidence even further.

> 4. Harry doesn't actually want Sirius to come out of hiding. What do you think Harry would have done if Vernon had called his bluff?

Becks3uk: I think Harry knows the Dursleys well enough to know that they wouldn't call his bluff. Sirius might have risked it for Harry and out of desire for a bit of excitement – but Harry would have argued against it. He would not have asked Sirius to come.

> 5. Harry is willing to admit he's troubled about the pain in his scar, but doesn't tell about the dream. Meanwhile the Dursleys are forced to admit Dudley's weight problem, but disregard the school's reports of poor grades and bullying. What do you think of these choices? What do they tell us about the characters?

Becks3uk: Harry hides the dream because he does not want to admit to people that he actually believes it might be real. He does not want to be crazy or to be associated with the likes of Trelawney who believe they are seers. It says that he cares what people think of him and he just wants to be normal. The other thing that is underlying I believe is his fear that it might actually be true – that Voldemort is plotting with Wormtail to kill him. I think he is afraid that if he tells people about the dream, they might confirm his fears. The Dursleys cannot allow themselves to believe that Dudley is anything but perfect. They won't believe poor grades or bullying as this is down to Dudley. They are forced to believe that Dudley is overweight as the nurse has written to them – which implies that Dudley's health could be in jeopardy. At least they can blame `nasty food' rather than Dudley himself. I also think that Vernon probably did not get very good grades himself and was considered a bully – he is so sure of his own self-righteousness that he probably doesn't understand why people would want to do things any differently to him e.g.  getting good grades.

> 6. Do you think Petunia noticed that Harry wasn't losing any weight? Does she really have no idea that Harry is getting extra food?

Becks3uk: I think it would not have occurred to her that Harry should lose or gain weight – she probably never considered the impact of the diet on him. His portions were always meagre up to Dudley's anyway. I think she tries so hard not to notice him that she would not notice if he did start losing weight.

> 7. JKR seems unaware that quarters are supposed to be four *equal* parts. Do you think the books would be different if she had more of a head for math?

Becks3uk: I don't think it matters – the point is that the grapefruit has been cut into four parts. Harry's piece is smaller than Dudley's. Besides, people often talk about quartering oranges or grapefruits and they rarely ensure that the four parts are equal!

Thanks Pippin for some great questions.