Deathly Hallows review - includes spoilers

[ellid]

As a person of faith, I think this reviewer has a real point.

Or, why I've had this nagging feeling that something was badly wrong in this book....

Comments

[beard5.livejournal.com]

Thank you, the reviewer has put his finger on what has bothered me about these stories. Even beyond the moral lesson, is that Harry does *not* change. His situation changes, but *he* doesn't. They're good enough storytelling, but missed being GREAT Storytelling by just that much. Thank you for finding that.

(Oh, as an aside, do you need teachers for Crossroads? If so, email=dorr_8 AT msn DOT com I'm planning to come down with Master Harold and Mistress Aine)If you're going to Pennsic, drive safe and have fun.

[ellid.livejournal.com]

We're looking for demonstrators more than teachers, but if you're willing to demonstrate either of your crafts, it would be wonderful. E-mail me at kittencat3@charter.net.

And I'm leaving for Pennsic next Friday. Dear God, do I need it!

[xochiquetzl]

I keep telling people it's all about Snape, but not this well. ;)

[ellid.livejournal.com]

He's by far the most complex character in the series. Rowling seems unable or unwilling to comprehend this, and her constant demurrals (and her worship of Gryffindors, including some who are not worthy of it *cough*Dumbledore*cough*) is truly annoying.

[aunty_marion]

Yes, yes, yes. Even an external (from fandom) viewer can spot it. Why couldn't JKR? Thanks for the link - that's an excellent review!

[ellid.livejournal.com]

You're welcome.

[fitzw.livejournal.com]

Personally, I don't feel that there was anything badly wrong in the book.

Harry is just a different type of hero/main character than that, and I can still admire him. He has a tenaciousness of character and purpose in the face of adversity (and peer pressure), despite everything happens to him, his friends, and his family. There are changes in him over time, just not the changes that the reviewer was looking for (or that you were, apparently).

Just because the books don't have an element that you want doesn't make them wrong.

The First Principle of Storytelling described by the reviewer seems to have little to do with many stories of the Classical or Medieval period (even some tales from the Vulgate Cycle/Arthurian Mythos). Those stories often left out the moral journey of the main character. The character was often already morally developed, and the story was the expression of that fact. Some tales left out any question of morality at all.

Sorry that you found the book lacking.

[ellid.livejournal.com]

I found it (and the sixth one, to be honest) in need of a good edit/rewrite. And yes, I was disappointed. I've enjoyed the series, but honestly? I think that ten years from now I'm still going to be reading LOTR, not these.

[jamaisneutral.livejournal.com]

Yes! That's what's been bothering me as well. And instead of taking Snape's characterisation to a higher level, she just invented this flimsy reason and added he was still a selfish bully. Urgh. How unsatisfactory.

[ellid.livejournal.com]

He's still flawed, and still unpleasant, and I doubt I'd like him in person. But he's far from irredeemable.

[jedirita.livejournal.com]

I was half-afraid to read the article, but now that I have...I disagree with him.

Not every story is about moral change in the main character. Don't you remember eighth grade reading class? The basic conflicts in a story are any or all of the following: man vs himself, man vs man, man vs nature, man vs society, man vs God. (sic)

Nor do I agree that Harry doesn't change throughout the series - although I do think his main conflict is man vs man. (In fact, years ago I wrote an essay about conflict in the Star Wars saga, in which I say that the HP conflict seems to be shaping up as man vs man as opposed to man vs himself. In other words, from the beginning it was an external conflict rather than an internal one.)

As far as how Harry changes, he for example finally learns Occlumency and stops his voyeurism of LV's every stray thought. He also finally learns to listen to authority for once in choosing to go for the horcruxes rather than the deathly hallows. Furthermore, at the beginning of the book, Lupin tries to tempt him away from his "signature" spell, expelliarmus, to get him to use a more aggressive, offensive spell. Yet in the end Harry sticks with his signature spell and wins the day. He also learns how much he needs to rely on other people, and not just run off by himself all the time.

Certainly Harry's moral struggle is nowhere near as complex or powerful as Snape's, nor does Harry end up a pure good guy (that Cruciatus on Carrow), but I absolutely do not agree that he had no moral struggle at all.