More random jottings - on a theme

[Amanda]

> For all the discussion on so-called 'adult themes' in HP - by 
> which the participants generally mean stuff like loyalty, 
> ethics and that old standby love - there is absolutely no 
> hint of the most popular adult activity of all. Sex - with its
> fascinating complications, variations and frustrations - the 
> last being particularly prevalent among teenagers IIRC.
> Oh yes, my memory can stretch that  far back, no matter 
> that some regard me as a model of drooling senility. 

 Snipped

> Don't get me wrong - I'm not advocating that HP should be
> replete with steamy scenes, but so far as I can see, there's 
> no indication that sexual thoughts ever occur (an impossibility
> for teenage males, the girls - they can speak for themselves) 
> or indeed any indication that wizards reproduce by any natural
> means whatsoever. I think Jo has invented a sub-species lacking
> certain hormones and reproduction occurs after a shall we
> /sharn't we discussion over a nice hot cup of cocoa and if the 
> decision is affirmative then they wave a magic wand - and voila! 
> The missus is up the duff.

Snipped

> Kneasy

I agree, the book is almost entirely devoid of sexuality. The only 
two places it appears is the epilogue (the trio have kids so by 
default they've had sex) and at the hint at unwanted sexual terror in 
Fenrir's delight at getting to devour Hermione.

It seems to me (without taking anytime to go back a look) that Fenrir 
is the only character that is overtly sexual in the saga even though 
it's well hidden behind the references to eating and devouring. 
Although, on a side note, I did have a hope that Bellatrix might get 
to use her hinted at sexuality by compromising one of the younger 
male characters; Neville or Ron. But that is beside the point. ;-)

Fenrir, a werewolf open to attacking children, is a cleaver way to 
bring in sex into a young person's story about war and violence.  I 
believe Jo means him to hint at a horror that that we adults know to 
be a reality and yet try so very hard to protect our children from; 
sexual violence against children and especially female children.  
It's a fact of war and I give JKR kudos for touching on it if that is 
indeed what she intended. 

But, as Kneasy points out, where is the sex? Or rather the 
consumation of positive sexuality?  Are we right to want to want it 
or even expect it?  It's not like it's a taboo subject in children's 
lit.  Philip Pullman has his 12 year old heroin spend time in a 
forest with her true love, Will.  Pullman doesn't elaborate on the 
scene but leaves it all to our imagination as to whether they just 
kissed or had sex, but it's made very clear that this is the moment 
when Lyra looses her `innocence' and moves from childhood into 
womanhood. It's beautifully and respectfully done and as an adult 
reader I was delighted.   

It's my sense JKR deliberately kept the two couple; Harry/Ginny and 
Ron/Hermione apart or distracted enough so they were unable to 
consummate their partnerships and she didn't have to deal with 
writing it.  But how wonderful would it have been to have one of the 
couples sneak a night outside at the Burrow?  All the reader would 
need to see is the awkwardness the following day; the slight blushes 
and furtive looks.  We grown ups would have got it. ;-)

Mandy