Boaz
Happy Easter!
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2005
- Messages
- 6,552
It does not surprise me that JKR sees things differently now. Close to twenty years have passed since she started writing the story. How many of us have changed some of our likes and dislikes in art, literature, hobbies, sports, and relationships? JKR has moved on to a different stage in life and it seems now that H+H now appeals to her. I wonder if this was not inevitable since they are the two most important characters.
Yes, Dumbledore, Snape, and Voldemort are crucial to the central plot, but young people are certainly not going to sympathize with them. They might empathize with Dumbledore, but readers under the age of forty are hardly going to see themselves as the aged wizard.
Harry is the hero of prophecy, but Hermione is just as capable if not more so. Hermione is not Harry's sidekick... Ron is. Hermione is a hero in her own right. Harry and Hermione represent the male and female aspects of the young hero so that both boys and girls can identify themselves with the themes of bravery, romance, loneliness, friendship, trust, etc.
I think it is important that, of all the primary and secondary good guys, only Harry and Hermione were muggle raised. We can more easily identify with their upbringing than with those of Ron and Luna.
And respectively, Harry and Hermione exemplify the qualities of adaptability and practicality. Change is the only constant that Harry knows and if he could not adapt, then he'd never overcome his obstacles. His ability to think on his feet and see options in fluid situations gets him through. On the other hand, Hermione triumphs because she is always prepared. She has spent her time wisely in study to acquire the necessary skills and mastery of spells. We value both qualities of flexibility and preparation.
Ron is the best friend and brother that Harry has longed for all his life. Ron is the trusted confidant and brother in arms of Harry's youth. Ron does not have any wise solutions or insight other than "Welcome to the Wizarding World." Ron is cherished because he and Harry stole and crashed a car... because he and Harry snuck out after hours... because he and Harry played sports together... because he and Harry liked trading cards... In short, Ron gives Harry's life normalcy.
Hermione is the stable, capable, and ever prepared female figure Harry has desired. Her willingness to listen (and to provide counsel) attracts Harry. She is valuable to Harry because she understands the difficulties to come and helps him prepare. She pushes him to study. She pushes him to lead the DA. She stands by him against Voldemort. Ron is almost always willing, but Hermione is willing and prepared. She is Harry's friend for the real world.
A published author once told me that a book is like a child. The author is there from the moment of conception. The author puts in as much of himself as he can. The author has a dream of how the book will enrich other people's lives. But once the book is published, it takes on a life of it's own. People might love it, hate it, or ignore it. It might be tossed in the trash or it might be chatted about incessantly. Some people may be inspired by it and some may use it as a blueprint for evil.
Not even JKR envisioned the life her story has undergone. People have laughed and wept. People have dismissed it. It has become a movie franchise unlike any other. It has created jobs. It has probably inspired porn as well. The story has been translated into at least sixty-seven other languages (according to Wikipedia). It has brought her praise and criticism from internet posters. The story has also created a legacy for generations of her descendants.
And yet, the story has affected her as well. I don't mean her lifestyle, her income, or her friends. Obviously her fans have connected with her and this (and the passage of time) has caused her to view H+H differently. It is my understanding that she wrote the books by herself... I mean without input from friends and colleagues (except her editor, of course)... and so she only got comments after the fact. It is my guess that this feedback was probably overwhelmingly in favor of H+H.
Putting them together would have been fine.... but it would have been too predictable and too neat. For a story to kids and teens, Harry Potter is very messy. Orphans, child abuse, murder, prison, torture, bigotry, theft, insanity, betrayal, and war are factors in the story. "And they all lived happily ever after" would not have been as good as the ending she gave us. "And they all went on with their lives in whatever manner they chose."
Yes, Dumbledore, Snape, and Voldemort are crucial to the central plot, but young people are certainly not going to sympathize with them. They might empathize with Dumbledore, but readers under the age of forty are hardly going to see themselves as the aged wizard.
Harry is the hero of prophecy, but Hermione is just as capable if not more so. Hermione is not Harry's sidekick... Ron is. Hermione is a hero in her own right. Harry and Hermione represent the male and female aspects of the young hero so that both boys and girls can identify themselves with the themes of bravery, romance, loneliness, friendship, trust, etc.
I think it is important that, of all the primary and secondary good guys, only Harry and Hermione were muggle raised. We can more easily identify with their upbringing than with those of Ron and Luna.
And respectively, Harry and Hermione exemplify the qualities of adaptability and practicality. Change is the only constant that Harry knows and if he could not adapt, then he'd never overcome his obstacles. His ability to think on his feet and see options in fluid situations gets him through. On the other hand, Hermione triumphs because she is always prepared. She has spent her time wisely in study to acquire the necessary skills and mastery of spells. We value both qualities of flexibility and preparation.
Ron is the best friend and brother that Harry has longed for all his life. Ron is the trusted confidant and brother in arms of Harry's youth. Ron does not have any wise solutions or insight other than "Welcome to the Wizarding World." Ron is cherished because he and Harry stole and crashed a car... because he and Harry snuck out after hours... because he and Harry played sports together... because he and Harry liked trading cards... In short, Ron gives Harry's life normalcy.
Hermione is the stable, capable, and ever prepared female figure Harry has desired. Her willingness to listen (and to provide counsel) attracts Harry. She is valuable to Harry because she understands the difficulties to come and helps him prepare. She pushes him to study. She pushes him to lead the DA. She stands by him against Voldemort. Ron is almost always willing, but Hermione is willing and prepared. She is Harry's friend for the real world.
A published author once told me that a book is like a child. The author is there from the moment of conception. The author puts in as much of himself as he can. The author has a dream of how the book will enrich other people's lives. But once the book is published, it takes on a life of it's own. People might love it, hate it, or ignore it. It might be tossed in the trash or it might be chatted about incessantly. Some people may be inspired by it and some may use it as a blueprint for evil.
Not even JKR envisioned the life her story has undergone. People have laughed and wept. People have dismissed it. It has become a movie franchise unlike any other. It has created jobs. It has probably inspired porn as well. The story has been translated into at least sixty-seven other languages (according to Wikipedia). It has brought her praise and criticism from internet posters. The story has also created a legacy for generations of her descendants.
And yet, the story has affected her as well. I don't mean her lifestyle, her income, or her friends. Obviously her fans have connected with her and this (and the passage of time) has caused her to view H+H differently. It is my understanding that she wrote the books by herself... I mean without input from friends and colleagues (except her editor, of course)... and so she only got comments after the fact. It is my guess that this feedback was probably overwhelmingly in favor of H+H.
Putting them together would have been fine.... but it would have been too predictable and too neat. For a story to kids and teens, Harry Potter is very messy. Orphans, child abuse, murder, prison, torture, bigotry, theft, insanity, betrayal, and war are factors in the story. "And they all lived happily ever after" would not have been as good as the ending she gave us. "And they all went on with their lives in whatever manner they chose."
