Fathers

[Jen Reese]

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Quote from Time magazine:
> > "Much of Rowling's understanding of the origins of evil has to
> > do with the role of the father in family life. 'As I look back
> > over the five published books,' she says, 'I realize that it's
> > kind of a litany of bad fathers. That's where evil seems to
> > flourish, in places where people don't get good fathering.'"

Eloise: 
> Oh, you know that's really interesting. I never got round to 
> submitting a question for the Leaky interview, but that was 
> exactly what I had in mind to ask about and I find it fascinating
> that perhaps she hadn't realised what a significant role fathers 
> and more particularly bad father/son relationships play in her
> books.

Jen: I'd say HBP was a close-second to GOF for exploring father/son 
relationships. When Draco was seen walking around with the Hand of 
Glory, I couldn't help but think of Lucius in Borgin & Burkes. Did 
he get what he wanted in the end? Was he proud like Bella, or 
furious at Voldemort like Narcissa? 

Also in HBP there was the symbolic father/son with Dumbledore/Snape 
and with Dumbledore/Harry as well. And Tobias Snape is on the table, 
whether we hear from him again or not (I think we will).

Not to mention the lovely Mr. Gaunt <g>.

Eloise:
> It is rather disturbing that she views it in terms of fathering, 
> rather than parenting, but I wonder if subconsciously it is to do 
> with her first marriage and worry over what the effect of that
> break up might be on her daughter. 

Jen: You think JKR had any idea Molly would lead to so many fan 
disputes?!? If the theme is 'bad fathers' then Molly must represent 
the Good Mother. Especially since we have so few to go on!! Lily-
dead, Alice-insane, Merope-dead, Mrs. Crouch-dead. Narcissa and 
Molly are holding up the mothering fort at this point.

Eloise: 
> This general theme is what led me originally to *assume* that 
Snape 
> had an abusive/absent father before we had any concrete evidence 
(and 
> do we now? I don't know, but I'm sure it wasn't a good 
relationship 
> whether Tobias is the man in the Pensieve or not) and to see him 
> regarding Dumbldore in a paternal role. Of course we also see 
> examples of patricide (TR, Crouch Jr) and one could view Snape's 
> killing of DD in this light.

Jen: I still think we were seeing Tobias in the Pensieve memory, if 
only because Harry didn't recognize the hook-nosed man as Severus. 
But I think you're right Eloise, that surely in that notebook of 
JKR's she has a backstory on Snape's abusive/distant father as 
well!! Why should he be the lucky one?

Jen, thankful to JKR for portraying Arthur in a positive light since 
we don't have anyone else to turn to for good fathering.