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Character Overview
Posted on: Sat, 04/18/2009 - 00:29
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Character Overview
Hello, I’ve literally just signed up as a user on Metafic, after snooping around for a couple of days looking at a few forum posts. It was Sovran’s section on siye that led me onto this group after reading Meaning of One, (good work by the way) and I noticed an earlier post by parakletos, saying that he wasn’t sure how to characterise Ron in one of his stories, as he wasn’t one of his favourite characters and asking what others thought about him. So I thought I’d try and get a discussion going to find out which characters were peoples favourites, what specifically they liked about them (maybe disliked sometimes, because no character is perfect) and their motivations; just to give any help to any struggling author out there, (and possible get a good bit of debating going on as well.)
I’ll try and get the ball rolling by starting with my two favourite characters: Dumbledore and Snape.
I suppose I like these two the most, as they are the most controversial characters and because of that, the most interesting and I think, the most real.
Snape is, I believe, a real tragic hero, although I use the term hero lightly as I suppose he acted out of his own selfish reasons; helping Harry because of Lily as apposed to just helping Harry. On the other hand though he did help Harry fight against Voldemort, even though there didn’t seem that much in his own life left to make him want to fight.
As for Dumbledore, I saw him more as the only person other than Harry willing to do the things that needed to be done for the greater good – to get rid of Voldemort; Harry himself giving up his own life so that others could live, (the greater good.) Dumbledore planed for Harry to go to Voldemort like a lamb to the slaughter as Snape said (remember that he knew Harry would have to die in order for Voldemort to as well, before Voldemort took Harry’s blood to regain his body) not because he wanted to but because he had to. I do not think that he was in the wrong to do so either; I mean what other choice did he have. I also believe as well that Dumbledore did love Harry and that is why he didn’t tell Harry about the prophecy and the Horcrux.
Anyway that was my short overview about those two characters, (and justification of their actions) as I believe they usually get a raw deal in many fan-fiction stories but I think they are two of the best: Snape, the one you love to hate and Dumbledore, the man who had to do what was right, even if he didn’t want to.
Enough rambling from me and over use of the word 'character', what do you think?
Comments
First, welcome aboard!
The joy of fanfic is an author can shape the characters as they percieve them. If seemingly OOC behavior is adquately justified then the story is all the more interesting. Initially Sovran's Molly in MoO horrified me. As I gave thought to her perceptions through the narrative I came to understand she was the same person we read in canon. The difference is MoO Harry is outside her circle of comfort. Molly Weasley is the woman who killed Bellatrix LeStrange in a face-to-face duel to protect that same daughter and didn't bat an eye.
Severus Snape is a most interesting character. I would not be surprised if in the years to come he is the most studied and talked about of Jo's characters. Oh by the way, because his brilliance and overall intellect was so wasted in petty ignorance, the pathetic putz disgusts me.
Knowing now that Dumbledore lusted after power brings his actions into a different light, too. In the Wizard world Jo wrote, Dumbledore could be likened to the Alcoholic's Anonymous member who is stuck tending bar because no one else will do it.
My favorite characters are Ron Weasley and Neville Longbottom. Ron is so often mis-cast as some misogynistic bully. Actually he is the only one who stands up to Hermione Granger. While awed by her intellect he is never cowed by it. Neville caught my interest at the end of Philosopher's Stone because he did what was right. He stood up to his friends. In the end it was Neville who with a "dead" Harry Potter at his feet, stood alone and unarmed before Voldemort himself and proudly defied him. Neville is also the only character besides Harry to summon Gryffindor's sword. Hmm...
Anyway, this site attracted me because of the caliber of the authors, and the chance to chat with them about their works in a forum that is not meant specifically for reviews. I hope you get as much pleasure from this site as I do. And PLEASE use any opportunity you can to torture Dino. :- )
Molly Weasley is the woman who killed Bellatrix LeStrange in a face-to-face duel to protect that same daughter and didn't bat an eye.
Sorry, but in my opinion this is one of a few blunders JKR allowed herself in DH. A woman who hasn't done anything but cooking and laundry for the past 25 years easily facing down one of the most battle tested Death Eaters? Please! A mother hen may valiantly defend her (its?) fledglings, she (it?) still won't stand a chance against a hyena.
As for Snape, what is his love for Lily worth when his hatred for James is obviously much stronger? I agree with the way Bobmin and kb0 portray Snape in most of their stories.
Molly Weasley is the woman who killed Bellatrix LeStrange in a face-to-face duel to protect that same daughter and didn't bat an eye.
Sorry, but in my opinion this is one of a few blunders JKR allowed herself in DH. A woman who hasn't done anything but cooking and laundry for the past 25 years easily facing down one of the most battle tested Death Eaters? Please! A mother hen may valiantly defend her (its?) fledglings, she (it?) still won't stand a chance against a hyena.
As for Snape, what is his love for Lily worth when his hatred for James is obviously much stronger? I agree with the way Bobmin and kb0 portray Snape in most of their stories.
Didn't Jo say she gave Molly that because people were so disparaging of her? People seem to think that Three Head Boys, the talent of the twins, Ron as Harry's wingman and Ginny's power came from thin air?
My wife has put up with so much rubbish from people who have treated her in a similar manner because she preferred to be a wife and mother.
As for Snape, I've yet to find a fanfic portrayal that does a good job of expanding his good points. If you've read Bonds of Blood and Magic by Duelist, Ginny poses just the same question to Snape.
I have to say I agree with parakletos there. Molly's been doing more than 'just cooking and cleaning for 25 years' and don't try and underestimate the power and adrenaline rush of a mother going up against someone who is bound to be completely overconfident about their abilities. Bellatrix has been languishing in a cell in Azkaban for 13 odd years and isn't trying to protect her young. Don't be fooled into thinking Molly's only been doing laundry and cooking for 25 years. That's actually kind of insulting and I think part of the reason Jo DID write it that way. I love it.
Sorry, I was a bit harsh there.
I never meant to say that Molly was weak magically. Also I never meant to be disparaging of housewives and their work.
What I meant was that, if I remember canon correctly, she is never shown to take part in any Order action. Rather she seems to mostly manage Order Headquarters. I may be wrong there, my perception probably has been tainted by too much fanfiction.
Ok, I reread that part about their duel. It sounds to me that Molly took advantage of the fact that Bellatrix didn't take her seriously. Harry is even reminded of Bella's and Sirius' duel in the DoM.
Still, I can't help thinking that, had Bella taken her seriously, Molly wouldn't have stood a chance. Maybe Jo made their duel similar to that in the DoM to make it more plausible.
When I said that she hasn't done anything but cooking and laundry for the past 25 years, it was an admittedly exaggerated way of saying that she probably hasn't had any training at duelling for quite some time.
Then again, with her children away at school/work, she could have found some time to train. Canon doesn't tell us.
Oh, take a look at her profile at http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/molly.html , it seems to support my point a bit... ;-)
Please let me emphasize again that it was never my intention to belittle the lives and work of housewives. I know I couldn't do it.
@ parakletos: no, I haven't read Bonds of Blood and Magic, but I guess I will now.
Oh, take a look at her profile at http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/molly.html , it seems to support my point a bit... ;-)
This is the same site that still hosts an article that says...
...and that it will be Ginny who ultimately betrays Harry for whatever reason. :p
but didn't I read somewhere in this forum that they intentionally kept all the obsolete stuff?
And is it reason enough to disregard all the information on that site?
but didn't I read somewhere in this forum that they intentionally kept all the obsolete stuff?
And is it reason enough to disregard all the information on that site?
The site is useful and I use it when I want to check something up, but it also is missing stuff. An example I came across recently:
Yaxley
Snape mentions him/her and implies that he/she escaped detention in Azkaban (HBP2).
Whereas Wikipedia has:
Yaxley
Yaxley (first name unknown) is the brutal-faced Death Eater that is present in the battle in which Snape killed Dumbledore. He is one of the more prominent Death Eaters, and one of Voldemort's spies in the Ministry of Magic. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Yaxley argues with Snape about the correct date of Harry's departure from the Dursley’s, but John Dawlish, an Auror who is tricked by an Order member, gives him incorrect information. Yaxley announces to an impressed assemblage of Death Eaters that he has placed the Imperius Curse upon Pius Thicknesse, the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. He uses Thicknesse to Imperius the other major department heads and they allow Voldemort to murder Rufus Scrimgeour; thus Thicknesse becomes Minister for Magic.
(and more)
From the Lexicon
Molly mounted a fierce counterattack and single-handedly did something that had been attempted unsuccessfully by many powerful wizards before her: dueled with and finished off the murderous Bellatrix Lestrange, and revenged the Longbottoms, Sirius, Dobby and Tonks
This says she managed something not managed before by many powerful wizards.
So did Harry Potter as a baby.
The entire point was that with a mother's love Harry Potter, a helpless baby, defeated the most evil wizard of all time who had never been bested by powerful, powerful wizards. At the end of the series, with a mother's love - Narcissa's in this instance - he is again bested and arguably his 'best Death Eater', his paramour, his equal was also defeated and bested because a mother loved her daughter *that* much.
I get so frustrated with people who put Molly down and disparage her as weak magically or at duelling because the entire point of the series is *not* who can get the best at magic through rigourous training schedules and 50km runs every morning. We come full circle from a mother sacrificing herself for her son to another mother casting all other fear aside for her son, to another who is willing to lay down her own life for her son. And in this vein we also see how these mothers triumph. Molly triumphs.
It's a kid's book and in kids' eyes who's the hero?
Mum.
We come full circle from a mother sacrificing herself for her son to another mother casting all other fear aside for her son, to another who is willing to lay down her own life for her son. And in this vein we also see how these mothers triumph. Molly triumphs.
Hm, can't really argue against that.
From the Lexicon
I get so frustrated with people who put Molly down and disparage her as weak magically or at duelling because the entire point of the series is *not* who can get the best at magic through rigourous training schedules and 50km runs every morning. We come full circle from a mother sacrificing herself for her son to another mother casting all other fear aside for her son, to another who is willing to lay down her own life for her son. And in this vein we also see how these mothers triumph. Molly triumphs.
It's a kid's book and in kids' eyes who's the hero?
Mum.
I also think most readers forget Molly is a Prewett by blood and a Weasley by marriage. We know of her brothers because of the fight they put up when cornered by Death Eaters. Do you think their sister would be that much different? We don't see her practicing her spell work because Harry doesn't see it however, she seems quite accomplished in the magic neded to run a magical household. Mark this down as another case of "A pox upon those 'Harry Goggles'!"
And yes Kezzy, mums are always the heros!
I also think most readers forget Molly is a Prewett by blood and a Weasley by marriage. We know of her brothers because of the fight they put up when cornered by Death Eaters. Do you think their sister would be that much different? We don't see her practicing her spell work because Harry doesn't see it however, she seems quite accomplished in the magic neded to run a magical household. Mark this down as another case of "A pox upon those 'Harry Goggles'!"
And yes Kezzy, mums are always the heros!
As my wife said, if running the a house full of kids was that easy, men would be able to do it :p
From the Lexicon
Molly mounted a fierce counterattack and single-handedly did something that had been attempted unsuccessfully by many powerful wizards before her: dueled with and finished off the murderous Bellatrix Lestrange, and revenged the Longbottoms, Sirius, Dobby and Tonks
Tonks? I know that Bella wanted to kill her, but DH doesn't really tell anything about who killed Tonks and Lupin, though by the fact that their bodies lay side by side one would assume that they were found at the same time and/or close to each other, which points that they probably fought and died together. But who the hell overanalyses it so much that (s)he says that Bellatrix killed her/them? O_o? I'm confused.
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"Night falls and I'm running in circles (Whoa-oh-oh)
I'm being chased by my imagination (Whoa-oh-oh)"
Alesana - The Thespian
It's common knowledge. In the web chat after the release of DH, Jo Rowling said that Bellatrix killed Tonks and Dolohov killed Lupin. It's on Leaky.
http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/2007/7/30/j-k-rowling-web-chat-transcr...
It's common knowledge. In the web chat after the release of DH, Jo Rowling said that Bellatrix killed Tonks and Dolohov killed Lupin. It's on Leaky.
http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/2007/7/30/j-k-rowling-web-chat-transcr...
I never knew that......
Anything else I should know? lol!
Probably ... LOL Nothing comes immediately to mind though!