harry potter
I was talking to a friend the other day and the subject of Harry Potter came up. She remarked how heroic he was and how thrilling the adventures were. That got me to thinking...
J.K. Rowling is a very talented writer. I suspect that most of what is in the books is there for a reason. The 6 books written so far have a fair share of logical inconsistencies. Why are they there, you might ask yourself? Up to now I'd just assumed that Rowling included them because they play well to younger readers--but now I have a different theory.
Harry Potter is a loser. Poor fellow. An outcast at school and with an unhappy family life.
Let me explain. Let's posit, for the moment, that the home life with the Dursleys, the ultimate muggles, is Harry's reality. That would mean that all the tales of wizardry and gallant fights against evil and black magic are simply an unhappy adolescent's fantasy escape from a reality he didn't like.
Much of what happens in the books, when looked upon from this angle, makes sense. The things about his real life that Harry resents most--that scar on his forehead that no doubt kids tease him about, his parents that seem to love his brother more than him, even his lack of friends--become positive in the fantasy world. His scar denotes a history of tragedy and a promise of greatness to come. Those uncaring parents aren't really his--no, his real parents died to save him. Yes, they loved him that much. And Harry has no friends because he's not a muggle. He's of a different sort. He can do magic.
Does this sounds like a typical maladusted drama queen adolescent? Sure does to me. I especially like the "I must have been adopted" part. Very typical.
Anyway, just a thought. It doesn't detract from how good the books are.
J.K. Rowling is a very talented writer. I suspect that most of what is in the books is there for a reason. The 6 books written so far have a fair share of logical inconsistencies. Why are they there, you might ask yourself? Up to now I'd just assumed that Rowling included them because they play well to younger readers--but now I have a different theory.Harry Potter is a loser. Poor fellow. An outcast at school and with an unhappy family life.
Let me explain. Let's posit, for the moment, that the home life with the Dursleys, the ultimate muggles, is Harry's reality. That would mean that all the tales of wizardry and gallant fights against evil and black magic are simply an unhappy adolescent's fantasy escape from a reality he didn't like.
Much of what happens in the books, when looked upon from this angle, makes sense. The things about his real life that Harry resents most--that scar on his forehead that no doubt kids tease him about, his parents that seem to love his brother more than him, even his lack of friends--become positive in the fantasy world. His scar denotes a history of tragedy and a promise of greatness to come. Those uncaring parents aren't really his--no, his real parents died to save him. Yes, they loved him that much. And Harry has no friends because he's not a muggle. He's of a different sort. He can do magic.
Does this sounds like a typical maladusted drama queen adolescent? Sure does to me. I especially like the "I must have been adopted" part. Very typical.
Anyway, just a thought. It doesn't detract from how good the books are.
Comments
Btw, Michele sent me
How's things in the Old North State? Michele sent me...
All that to say, from what I know about the story it sounds rather plausible an explanation. You ought to host a book study on it. :)
Michele sent me.
Off to see the new film tonite. Woo hoo.
I like the books & the films, but think they will rapidly date - it's not the new Narnia:-)
Here from Micheles today, although I come anyway.
I'm here from Michele this morning here in L.A. Hope your day is a wonderful one!
Michele sent me.
Even though I am 41 I am an avid Harry Potter fan. I have read the books several times, and listened to them on CD, and watched all of the movies. The latest one was fantastic.
All in all there arent really that many incongruities in the books. I have spotted one or two, but they really are minor.
J.K. Rowling has done a fantastic job at planning our her novels, and covering all of the bases.
My vote is for Harry taking out Voldemort, then asking Ginny to Marry him. LOL
The books, not surprisingly, are better than the movies. Nevertheless, the movies are exciting and well done.
I agree that there is a whole lot of teen angst in the books, but when the element of magic is added in, it is taken to a whole new level.
Have a great weekend!
Dave, I've spotted dozens of plot problems in the books but I think they're all there on purpose. I'm probably counting things that you don't feel are relevant. I'm a bit anal about things working right.
Erin, I've only seen the first two movies but I have borrowed the third on DVD so I might watch it tonight. I didn't like the first two. The books were so much better!
Michele sent me, by the way.
My son has read the books but we only catch the movies if they happen to be on TV.
Once you strip away the supernatural BS from HP, you come up with stories that kids really dig because they can see themselves within them.
Popped in from Michele's.
Well, I STILL haven't read Harry Potter yet, since I was here earlier...
Michele sent me this lovely afternoon!
Michele sent me ;)
Anyway, since you're familiar with Neal Stephenson, I'll suggest that The Diamond Age is similar (but more complicated) in this regard.
I much prefer the Lemony Snicket series (the movie was a horrible interpretation of REALLY wonderful books). If you haven't read (or listened to!) those, you should.
And you can look at C all you want... in her case, beauty is TRULY skin deep!! ;)
a similar approach is taken in a buffy episode (not sure if you're a fan). in the episode, she starts having delusions (or are they the truth?) that she is in a mental hospital and she has imagined her entire life of killing vampires, of all of her friends, etc. makes the whole story take on a whole new light.
anyway, yes, it's 2.30am, and i'm drunk and rambling. happy saturday to ya.
J K Rowling certainly has money to burn now.
Roald Dahl, would do it quite blatently in some of his stories.
I really like the Harry Potter films, perhaps more so than the books.
rashbre
Doctor Life doesn't like Harry Potter... His mm.mm.mm.m.mmomma said Harry Potter's the Divil.
Here via Michele's!
Are you suggesting that Harry's whole experience is a fantasy life??
I don't know...I haven't been able to get past page 100 of book 4. I enjoyed the first three; book three being my favorite, actually. I just found the first one hundred pages of book 4 to be an incredibly laborious (mis)adventure.
God Bless.