It’s undeniable that to get along with the story we do need to sympathise with Harry and his friends in a general way, and oppose Voldemort and his followers in a general way. If we don’t want Harry to vanquish Voldemort and survive, then there’s something of a problem there.
That's exactly my problem! :) By series end I had no sympathy at all for either Harry or his friends. I didn't like Voldemort either, of course. (Who would?) But Harry's goals were so...small. He got his revenge and protected the WW's status quo. But, as the essay pointed out, it's a very ugly status quo.
I guess the point of that was to show that there was now a new generation setting off on the journey their parents had made.
What journey? Harry begins the series as the chosen one; he ends the series as the chosen one. Hogwarts still has its four houses, some houses more equal than others. The WW still distrusts and mucks about with muggles. Giants and werewolves and goblins are pretty much their stereotype, and kept in their place. House-elves are still slaves.
I wrote: Harry beating Voldemort didn't really accomplish much of anything.
You responded: It did from Harry’s point of view, and it’s his story we’re reading. This is rather a depressing view. Are we to dismiss individual achievement as not accomplishing much of anything?
Even within Harry's pov, I didn't see Harry achieve all that much. Yes, he killed the monster. But he didn't grow in the process. Harry didn't change. The WW didn't change. They both remained rather ugly and small and childish. Not as nasty as Voldemort, of course. But not as far removed from him as they liked to imagine themselves.
mary_j_59 wrote: But what really bugs me about Harry is that he never, ever has to apologize for, or thank anyone for, anything.
It underlines the suggestion that Harry started life as pretty much perfect in every way. His failures weren't opportunities for him to learn, they were designed to tug on the readers heartstrings and encourage us to hope for Harry to get the kind of lovely, fluffy life he so deserved.
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Date: 2008-07-09 09:15 pm (UTC)That's exactly my problem! :) By series end I had no sympathy at all for either Harry or his friends. I didn't like Voldemort either, of course. (Who would?) But Harry's goals were so...small. He got his revenge and protected the WW's status quo. But, as the essay pointed out, it's a very ugly status quo.
I guess the point of that was to show that there was now a new generation setting off on the journey their parents had made.
What journey? Harry begins the series as the chosen one; he ends the series as the chosen one. Hogwarts still has its four houses, some houses more equal than others. The WW still distrusts and mucks about with muggles. Giants and werewolves and goblins are pretty much their stereotype, and kept in their place. House-elves are still slaves.
I wrote: Harry beating Voldemort didn't really accomplish much of anything.
You responded: It did from Harry’s point of view, and it’s his story we’re reading. This is rather a depressing view. Are we to dismiss individual achievement as not accomplishing much of anything?
Even within Harry's pov, I didn't see Harry achieve all that much. Yes, he killed the monster. But he didn't grow in the process. Harry didn't change. The WW didn't change. They both remained rather ugly and small and childish. Not as nasty as Voldemort, of course. But not as far removed from him as they liked to imagine themselves.
It underlines the suggestion that Harry started life as pretty much perfect in every way. His failures weren't opportunities for him to learn, they were designed to tug on the readers heartstrings and encourage us to hope for Harry to get the kind of lovely, fluffy life he so deserved.