Re: Harry's Better Half: My problem with Ginny.
- From: "Karnak17" <karnak17@xxxxxx>
- Date: 6 Jun 2006 12:01:36 -0700
Toon wrote:
On 5 Jun 2006 11:52:38 -0700, "Karnak17" <karnak17@xxxxxx> wrote:
As to it not happening in FICTION? You must be joking? Why, the two
books I happen to be reading right now, THE BARTIMAEUS TRILOGY by
Jonathan Stroud, and PRIDE AND PREJUDICE by Jane Austen, both feature
precisely the romantic dynamic I am talking about. It's a popular
dynamic in fictional friendships also.
Woo hoo. 2 whole books.
The point was that they are the two whole books that I happened to be
reading right now. Which I point out merely to reflect the fact that
it is common enough generally. I could scarcely list ALL the books
I've ever read with such a theme. I though confining it to the two I
happened to be reading right now would sufficiently contradict you
bizarre assertion that such a theme is unheard of in fiction. It is
certainly not uncommon.
Again, you're basing relationships solely on
this idea.
I am using this idea to help point out what seriously bothers me about
Ginny/Harry, why I do not find it romantic, or appealing, or moving, or
fun. I mention it in addition to another idea, which I believe it is
closely connected to, that Harry doesn't seem to care much about Ginny,
pay much attention to her, or bond very closely with her. In marked
contrast to his relationships with Neville, for example.
And whether it's the current fad or a general plot point
such as hero fights villian, not everybody subscribes to this theory.
It's like getting mad that a hero dies at the end, because good
triumphant's over evil, and heroes win in the end. Nice idea, used
all the time, but is not he only way.
I didn't say that Rowling had to use the idea because everybody else
did. I pointed out that it was a common theme in literature ONLY
because you made the ludicrous statement that it was virtually unheard
of in literature, and in life. Neither are even close to being true.
I point this out merely because it is true and you had said that it
wasn't. But if you wish to continue to think that such stories are
rare, that is okay. It has little to do with how the Harry/Ginny
relationship SHOULD work out.
It certainly is not the dymamic in EVERY fictional romance: For
example, in Victorian novels, there was a tendency I noticed for the
hero to have a love interest who very much lacked the qualities I am
talking about; she would have a simple and childlike sort of "love" for
the hero, no great insight into his character, and was always agreeable
and supportive, never contradictory. Such "romances" tended to come
equipped with an acerbic female sidekick, who would actually TALK to
the hero and make plans with him while the romantic heroine was off on
her pedastle. In THE WOMAN IN WHITE this sidekick actually becomes the
main heroine of the novel, and her friendship with the hero the main
relationship. Of course, TO ME, (I make no assertion that everybody
feels the same) this was a good choice on the author's part, because
the friendship was so much more interesting than the romance.
Precisely because the friendship had those qualities which Ginny/Harry
lack.
<snip>
If you think about it, the fact that she was snowed SO BADLY by "Tom"
at such a young age would be bound to leave permanent scars, and that
might explain her keeping lots of guys on a string, but never really
getting emotionally involved with them. That would be understandable.
I wish I saw SOME SIGN that Rowling was interested in making Ginny
three-dimensional in this way. But from what I have read of her
interviews, she seems honestly convinced that what she has written is a
good romance, and that Ginny and Harry are a good match. From an
alleged fan of Jane Austen, who knew how to do romance right, I dunno
how she can think this.
Well, not everybody is a Jane Austin fan, nor does everybody who
writes base their plots on what Jane Austin did. There are lots of
reason Harry and Ginny don't work. Basing this off of a lack of
calling Harry on his crap isn't much of a case, unless you can show JK
believes in this plotline and has used it for all other relationships.
otherwise, it's a nice way to find a wife, but not the only way, which
you seem to believe it must be. Either call him on his crap, or
you're not worthy.
I was pointing out that it is one of the things -- one of the biggest
things -- which personally bothers me about their relationship.
Particularly the nausiating scene where she says that Hermione should
be glad he sectumsempre'd Draco. I am certain that there are
"successful" relationships where one partner doesn't call another
partner on his crap, even when that crap amounts to attempted murder.
But I would not want Harry or Ginny to have THAT sort of "successful"
relationship. And it does not, personally, appeal to me as a reader
that they are having one now.
.
- Follow-Ups:
- References:
- Harry's Better Half: My problem with Ginny.
- From: Karnak17
- Re: Harry's Better Half: My problem with Ginny.
- From: Toon
- Re: Harry's Better Half: My problem with Ginny.
- From: Karnak17
- Re: Harry's Better Half: My problem with Ginny.
- From: Toon
- Harry's Better Half: My problem with Ginny.
- Prev by Date: Re: A Numerology Tidbit
- Next by Date: Re: THREE HOGWARTS HORCRUXES???
- Previous by thread: Re: Harry's Better Half: My problem with Ginny.
- Next by thread: Re: Harry's Better Half: My problem with Ginny.
- Index(es):
Relevant Pages
|
