Our changing perception of characters

[nikkalmati]

No: HPFGUIDX 192311




> > Annemehr:
> > > Here's another question: over the course of the series, did your
> opinion change drastically about any of the characters?
> >
BIG SNIP
> Geoff:
> 
> >
> > So, yes, my views have changed. But I reiterate that I believe that it
> has been
> > JKR's intention for this to happen. that we have on several occasions
> met
> > characters who turned out to be the opposite of our first impression
> and
> > the point that, as in the real world, we often have to re-evaluate our
> thoughts
> > about people we know -  or think we know.
> >
> 
> Annemehr:
> Mostly, yes.  But I'm sure it was not her intention for me to get fed up
> with Lily, or for Alla to despise Dumbledore. ;)
>

Nikkalmati

JKR does plan to deceive us and to make us think by showing over the course of the story that all the characters have their weaknesses.  No one is perfect in her world.  In some cases the characters change over time, but in others their true character is revealed with its flaws and weaknesses.  In most case4s this is intentional, but I also think she does not always know what the reader will conclude.  

I was disappointed in Lily after the last scene with Snape, because she had been perceived through the idealized membories of Hagrid, Lupin and Snape.  I must add that although she seemed somewhat unfeeling under the circumstances, she alludes to other events which have influenced her decision, and I suspect she and Snape have had this conversation before.  But, I was disappointed. (I also question whether one reason she ended up liking James was that he was wealthy.  I don't think she came from a well-to-do background and I know her sister Petunia wanted security more than anything else.)

I also felt disappointed in Lupin - one of the nice guys.  However, part of the reason for disappointment is the strong reaction Harry had to the suggestion Lupin would go with them and leave Tonks and Teddy behind.  I think Harry was a bit harsh there.

Sirius seemed so friendly towards Harry and so happ-go-lucky that it was impossible not to like him a lot, but I was truly shocked by the events seen in Snape's pensieve and the revelation that Sirius had not changed after his imprisonment.  I also was shocked by James' behavior and neither one recovered IMHO. 

I was not surprised by Snape because I thought where that was going was pretty clear after the first book.

I was surprised a bit by Dudley Dursley  because he managed to grow up at the last and surpassed both his parents.  I wonder if he ever saw Harry again.

Dumbledore was the big reveal, not because of his experiments as a young man, but because of the way he manipulated everone in the books (and of course because he seemed to fit the literary type of the wise helpful old man and because JKR called him the epitome of goodness in an interview). In fact, he did not trust anyone.  He saw people as being useful or not useful.  He was wise not to trust himself to become Mimister of Magic, because he was suceptable to the misuse of power, but it was a great flaw not to trust anyone, especially after he knew he would probably die before the defeat of LV.  Despite his theme of the power of love, I don't see that he loved anyone, except Harry, and as he told Harry himself, he did not intend for that to happen.  Certainly, he regretted the death of his sister and felt guilty about it, but I'm not sure he loved her the way his brother did.  

Nikkalmati