While Hermione constantly reminds us that females can be strong and powerful, Fleur Delacour obliterates this message in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
When she is chosen by the Goblet of Fire to be a champion for her school, the reader (especially if they are girls) might get excited because there is a girl competing against the boys and she could possibly win. As it turns out, however, Fleur's only strength is her beauty.
First Task - The Dragons
While we do not have details about how she fared against the dragon, she was able to collect the golden egg. When we hear about the ranking at the Third Task, we are left to assume that Fleur, being in last place, did not do very well in this task.
Second Task - The Lake
Despite working out the clue from the egg and successfully using the Bubble-Head charm, Fleur gets attacked and isn't strong enough to fight back against them, so she is brought up to the surface and disqualified.
Even worse, in the movie, Harry also comes across some grindylows and uses his wand to blast them far enough away that he can escape and complete the task. Where was Fleur's wand? Why didn't she find a way to fight back, especially since she is several years older and has more magical knowledge then Harry?
Pathetic.
Third Task - The Maze
Through no fault of her own, Fleur is also disqualified from this task as well due to Krum cursing her. But, once again, we hate to ask -- why didn't she fight back?
Also, in the movie, we see her running through the maze, clearly distressed and afraid. The boys, however, though possibly nervous, seem to be holding themselves together quite well as they navigate towards the Triwzard Cup.
So . . . why was Fleur competing when she clearly is outmatched by all her male competitors, including Harry who is significantly younger and less prepared than her?
I propose that Fleur was only there because Rowling found it necessary to have a girl character compete in the Tournament so that she wouldn't be labeled as an anti-feminist. But, really, making Fleur lose every task can arguably be used as proof that Rowling is anti-feminist because all she is is just another pretty face.
In the end, Hermione gets to be smart because she is plain looking and Fleur exists only to be a beautiful girl who somehow, by a miracle of God, became a Triwizard Champion.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Monday, January 21, 2013
Mommy Dearest . . .
When reading/watching Harry Potter, the two moms that come to mind are Lily Potter and Molly Weasley.
Lily -- the mother who willingly die to protect her son when she was given the option of escaping to live on (supposedly. This is Voldemort we're talking about . . . )
Molly -- the mother who had more children than anyone else in the series, but had enough love for her six sons and one daughter as well as Harry and Hermione, even before they married into the family.
Both of these women are to be admired as strong, good mothers.
. . . But what about Narcissa Malfoy? Just because she is a Malfoy serving Voldemort (possibly only under the influence of her husband) doesn't mean she is an evil or bad mother.
Lets look at the evidence:
1. She disobeys Voldemort's direct orders to protect her son in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. She appeals to Snape, knowing that she could be punished or killed for speaking about the plan, so that Draco will not die in his attempt to kill Dumbledore so that he won't die.
2. In the same book, she defends Draco at Madame Malkins. She may have been snooty and rude, but it was all for Draco's benefit and protection.
3. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, she is the one to check if Harry was dead or not. She pronounced Harry as being dead because he was able to tell her Draco was still alive in the castle. We have to question what she would have done if Harry said Draco was dead, but that is not the point. The point is that the question was asked out of concern for Draco.
4. In the movie (Part Two), Draco seems to be debating on whether or not to walk over to the Death Eaters. When Lucius pleaded him to join their side again, Draco remained still. It wasn't until his mother called gently and offered her hand out to him that he crossed to the other side. This could be because Draco loves his mother more than his father, but logically, that reason is because Narcissa is a good mother who knows how to take care of and speak to her son. Then, she takes Draco by the hand and ditches all the Death Eaters because she never cared for the war or Voldemort; her dedication was to Draco alone. Of course, Lucius ends up leaving with them, he does it looking over his shoulder to make sure he wouldn't be killed for leaving; Narcissa, on the other hand, never turns back. She was able to remove her son from danger and that's all that mattered to her.
I feel like quoting Wreck-It Ralph -- "Just because you're a Bad Guy doesn't mean you are a bad guy."
Just because your family serves Voldemort doesn't mean you are a bad person or Death Eater. Either way, Narcissa is still a good mother, Death Eater or not, because being a Death Eater has nothing to do with the kind of mother you are and Narcissa is a good mother.
Lily -- the mother who willingly die to protect her son when she was given the option of escaping to live on (supposedly. This is Voldemort we're talking about . . . )
Molly -- the mother who had more children than anyone else in the series, but had enough love for her six sons and one daughter as well as Harry and Hermione, even before they married into the family.
Both of these women are to be admired as strong, good mothers.
. . . But what about Narcissa Malfoy? Just because she is a Malfoy serving Voldemort (possibly only under the influence of her husband) doesn't mean she is an evil or bad mother.
Lets look at the evidence:
1. She disobeys Voldemort's direct orders to protect her son in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. She appeals to Snape, knowing that she could be punished or killed for speaking about the plan, so that Draco will not die in his attempt to kill Dumbledore so that he won't die.
2. In the same book, she defends Draco at Madame Malkins. She may have been snooty and rude, but it was all for Draco's benefit and protection.
3. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, she is the one to check if Harry was dead or not. She pronounced Harry as being dead because he was able to tell her Draco was still alive in the castle. We have to question what she would have done if Harry said Draco was dead, but that is not the point. The point is that the question was asked out of concern for Draco.
4. In the movie (Part Two), Draco seems to be debating on whether or not to walk over to the Death Eaters. When Lucius pleaded him to join their side again, Draco remained still. It wasn't until his mother called gently and offered her hand out to him that he crossed to the other side. This could be because Draco loves his mother more than his father, but logically, that reason is because Narcissa is a good mother who knows how to take care of and speak to her son. Then, she takes Draco by the hand and ditches all the Death Eaters because she never cared for the war or Voldemort; her dedication was to Draco alone. Of course, Lucius ends up leaving with them, he does it looking over his shoulder to make sure he wouldn't be killed for leaving; Narcissa, on the other hand, never turns back. She was able to remove her son from danger and that's all that mattered to her.
I feel like quoting Wreck-It Ralph -- "Just because you're a Bad Guy doesn't mean you are a bad guy."
Just because your family serves Voldemort doesn't mean you are a bad person or Death Eater. Either way, Narcissa is still a good mother, Death Eater or not, because being a Death Eater has nothing to do with the kind of mother you are and Narcissa is a good mother.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Aberforth Gives Up
Hey guys. I apologize for the lack of posts lately. I have tons of ideas, but I was in a car wreck and my concussion has limited my activities. I still have the concussion, but I'm at a place where I can actually think again.
Moving on . . .
Recently I read and watched Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. (Part Two of the movies) and Aberforth caught my attention. Harry may be angry and frustrated with Aberforth for saying that the Order is over because Voldemort has won, and forcing Harry to come to terms of his doubts about Dumbledore he's experienced throughout this book/movie.
In the end, however, Harry finds his belief once again and challenges Aberforth, claiming he has given up.
Hermione of course points out that maybe Aberforth hadn't given up at all.
But why?
What does Hermione see in Aberforth that no one else can?
It is possible that through the whole ordeal, Aberforth was testing Harry by pretending to have given up.
Do you still believe in and trust Albus?
Are you going to finish what Albus asked you to do?
Are you ready to finish finding and destroying Horcruxes?
The reason I say this is because, through the broken mirror piece, he watches over Harry several times.
Also, he is working with Dobby. Why? Because Dumbledore asked Dobby to assist Aberforth in leading Harry Potter towards the very end. This is a plausible assumption because Aberforth admits to liking Dobby, meaning they had at least known each other long enough to determine that they like one other.
Aberforth, then, becomes the point of no return. He gives Harry the option to run away, encouraging him that the best option is to run away. Also, through speaking with Aberforth, he rediscovers his trust and admiration for Professor Dumbledore so that Harry can follow through on the task of making Voldemort mortal once more.
I realize that this is just me guessing, but I think it is a valid possibility.
Thoughts?
Moving on . . .
Recently I read and watched Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. (Part Two of the movies) and Aberforth caught my attention. Harry may be angry and frustrated with Aberforth for saying that the Order is over because Voldemort has won, and forcing Harry to come to terms of his doubts about Dumbledore he's experienced throughout this book/movie.
In the end, however, Harry finds his belief once again and challenges Aberforth, claiming he has given up.
Hermione of course points out that maybe Aberforth hadn't given up at all.
But why?
What does Hermione see in Aberforth that no one else can?
It is possible that through the whole ordeal, Aberforth was testing Harry by pretending to have given up.
Do you still believe in and trust Albus?
Are you going to finish what Albus asked you to do?
Are you ready to finish finding and destroying Horcruxes?
The reason I say this is because, through the broken mirror piece, he watches over Harry several times.
Also, he is working with Dobby. Why? Because Dumbledore asked Dobby to assist Aberforth in leading Harry Potter towards the very end. This is a plausible assumption because Aberforth admits to liking Dobby, meaning they had at least known each other long enough to determine that they like one other.
Aberforth, then, becomes the point of no return. He gives Harry the option to run away, encouraging him that the best option is to run away. Also, through speaking with Aberforth, he rediscovers his trust and admiration for Professor Dumbledore so that Harry can follow through on the task of making Voldemort mortal once more.
I realize that this is just me guessing, but I think it is a valid possibility.
Thoughts?
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Harry's Balancing Act
Oh Harry . . . what are we going to do with you?
We've seen you successfully work through every difficult obstacle, most of which deal with Voldemort, with some help from your friends and grow so much that you can approach Voldemort with pity and try to save him by offering a chance for remorse.
Admirable on all accounts, BUT . . .
You can't get over your prejudice with Slytherin. You hear the Sorting Hat sing about unity nearly every year, but you refuse to believe that you could be friends with Draco or any other Slytherin student for that matter. It's been that way since you got at Hogwarts.
The Sorting Hat was placed on your head and you begged it not to put you in Slytherin because every wizard who ever went bad came from Slytherin and you didn't want to be one of those wizards/witches. To be fair, some of that was due to a bit of Voldemort's soul in your body, but you could have shared some Slytherin tendencies -- that doesn't necessarily make you a bad person (eg. Snape).
To be fair, this was your first year at Hogwarts, so we'll excuse you for that momentarily.
Over your school years, however, you never changed. Your hatred of any and every Slytherin burned deep within your heart.
Even when the Battle of Hogwarts is long over and you are bringing your family to Platform 9 and 3/4 so James and Albus can go to school. In the movie, you do spot Draco and share an acknowledging, noncommital head nod. This could be construed as progress . . .
And then you lose it . . .
You do okay at first. Albus is afraid that he will become a Slytherin student. You tell him that it will be okay because Snape was Slytherin and turned out to be braver than most Gryffindor students ever turn out to be. You also tell him that he would make a fantastic student in any House, even if he is in Slytherin.
But you couldn't leave it at that . . .
You had to tell Albus that he can choose not to be in Slytherin if he asked the Hat. And all that hard work learning not to be prejudiced is gone. Clearly in your mind, and in the mind of your children, Slytherin is still bad.
You were so close Harry . . . so close, but you can't balance your judgments and opinions out even as an adult. Gryffindor = good and Slytherin = bad.
You could have grown up completely, but you didn't.
I expected more of you . . .
we all did.
We've seen you successfully work through every difficult obstacle, most of which deal with Voldemort, with some help from your friends and grow so much that you can approach Voldemort with pity and try to save him by offering a chance for remorse.
Admirable on all accounts, BUT . . .
You can't get over your prejudice with Slytherin. You hear the Sorting Hat sing about unity nearly every year, but you refuse to believe that you could be friends with Draco or any other Slytherin student for that matter. It's been that way since you got at Hogwarts.
The Sorting Hat was placed on your head and you begged it not to put you in Slytherin because every wizard who ever went bad came from Slytherin and you didn't want to be one of those wizards/witches. To be fair, some of that was due to a bit of Voldemort's soul in your body, but you could have shared some Slytherin tendencies -- that doesn't necessarily make you a bad person (eg. Snape).
To be fair, this was your first year at Hogwarts, so we'll excuse you for that momentarily.
Over your school years, however, you never changed. Your hatred of any and every Slytherin burned deep within your heart.
Even when the Battle of Hogwarts is long over and you are bringing your family to Platform 9 and 3/4 so James and Albus can go to school. In the movie, you do spot Draco and share an acknowledging, noncommital head nod. This could be construed as progress . . .
And then you lose it . . .
You do okay at first. Albus is afraid that he will become a Slytherin student. You tell him that it will be okay because Snape was Slytherin and turned out to be braver than most Gryffindor students ever turn out to be. You also tell him that he would make a fantastic student in any House, even if he is in Slytherin.
But you couldn't leave it at that . . .
You had to tell Albus that he can choose not to be in Slytherin if he asked the Hat. And all that hard work learning not to be prejudiced is gone. Clearly in your mind, and in the mind of your children, Slytherin is still bad.
You were so close Harry . . . so close, but you can't balance your judgments and opinions out even as an adult. Gryffindor = good and Slytherin = bad.
You could have grown up completely, but you didn't.
I expected more of you . . .
we all did.
The Chosen One(s)
When referring to Rowling's Harry Potter series, the label "Chosen One" is instantly attributed to Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived to be the Boy Who Died to be the Boy Who Become the "Chosen One" destined to defeat Voldemort.
No one is denying Harry this prestigious, predestined from birth title; however, can we open our minds wide enough to suppose that Harry is only one of three "Chosen One(s)"?
If not Harry, the next obvious character to be chosen is Neville Longbottom. The prophecy predicting the fall of the Voldemort said that a boy born in late summer by a couple who had escaped death from Voldemort three times. It could have referred to Harry or Neville, but Voldemort chose Harry.
Even still, Neville remains chosen. When Harry leaves to meet his death, he chooses Neville to take on the task of killing Nagini and Voldemort in his absence. Even without Harry's appointment, Neville takes it upon himself to be chosen (along with Ginny and Luna) to keep Dumbledore's Army going when Snape is headmaster and the Carrow siblings are ruining Hogwarts while Harry, Ron, and Hermione are out finding and destroying horcruxes.
Furthermore, Draco is chosen as well. Voldemort chooses Draco to be the one to kill Dumbledore whilst knowing that Draco will most likely fail or die in the process. Draco is also chosen (in this case, by the author) to be Harry's character foil and archenemy throughout the series; thus Draco is chosen as the "evil" student always out to get our favorite trio of characters.
So, basically, Neville and Draco are just as chosen as Harry is. I'm sure I could throw together a long post with examples from scholars and the books, but seeing as this is a blog, I'm not going to bother it. Maybe one day I'll go more in-depth with this topic at a later date.
No one is denying Harry this prestigious, predestined from birth title; however, can we open our minds wide enough to suppose that Harry is only one of three "Chosen One(s)"?
If not Harry, the next obvious character to be chosen is Neville Longbottom. The prophecy predicting the fall of the Voldemort said that a boy born in late summer by a couple who had escaped death from Voldemort three times. It could have referred to Harry or Neville, but Voldemort chose Harry.
Even still, Neville remains chosen. When Harry leaves to meet his death, he chooses Neville to take on the task of killing Nagini and Voldemort in his absence. Even without Harry's appointment, Neville takes it upon himself to be chosen (along with Ginny and Luna) to keep Dumbledore's Army going when Snape is headmaster and the Carrow siblings are ruining Hogwarts while Harry, Ron, and Hermione are out finding and destroying horcruxes.
Furthermore, Draco is chosen as well. Voldemort chooses Draco to be the one to kill Dumbledore whilst knowing that Draco will most likely fail or die in the process. Draco is also chosen (in this case, by the author) to be Harry's character foil and archenemy throughout the series; thus Draco is chosen as the "evil" student always out to get our favorite trio of characters.
So, basically, Neville and Draco are just as chosen as Harry is. I'm sure I could throw together a long post with examples from scholars and the books, but seeing as this is a blog, I'm not going to bother it. Maybe one day I'll go more in-depth with this topic at a later date.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Hairy Potter
Okay . . .
I realize that this post has nothing to do with anything, but I've been watching the movies and decided to do this anyway because it was all I could think about watching these movies was the character's hair.
I know.
I'm weird.
Get over it.
Moving right along . . .
Harry's hair definitely looks best in Prisoner of Azkaban -- it's a more grown-up version of his hair in Sorcerer's Stone and Chamber of Secrets, but it stays true to the book in that Harry's hair is messy and always sticking up, just as Rowling wrote it to be and not like his hair in Order of the Phoenix and Half-Blood Prince.
Ron's hair is best in Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows (both parts). I typed three movie titles because his hair doesn't change over the course of them. It suits him. Also, I HATE his hair in Prisoner of Azkaban.
Hermione's hair is best in Deathly Hallows. I liked it in Sorcerer's Stone and Chamber of Secrets because it was true to the book, but every other book fails to match that. Keeping that in mind, I still like Deathly Hallows for her.
Fred and George's hair is best in Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows. It was cute in the first two movies. Then it got long and I didn't like it by any means. But it's super cute in the last movies. I love it.
Draco's hair is best in Prisoner of Askaban, Goblet of Fire, and Order of the Phoenix. In the first two films, the color was unnatural and the straight slicked back look was awful. And I'm not a fan of the slicked over to the side like in the last movies.
Neville's hair is best in Deathly Hallows, hands down. He looks like an actual grown-up man, not a child. It was cute in Prisoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire -- it was messy and dorky, but I love it. In Order of the Phoenix, however, it was terrible. I hate it.
Anyway , , ,
I'm done rambling about hair now. So I'm outta here.
I realize that this post has nothing to do with anything, but I've been watching the movies and decided to do this anyway because it was all I could think about watching these movies was the character's hair.
I know.
I'm weird.
Get over it.
Moving right along . . .
Harry's hair definitely looks best in Prisoner of Azkaban -- it's a more grown-up version of his hair in Sorcerer's Stone and Chamber of Secrets, but it stays true to the book in that Harry's hair is messy and always sticking up, just as Rowling wrote it to be and not like his hair in Order of the Phoenix and Half-Blood Prince.
Ron's hair is best in Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows (both parts). I typed three movie titles because his hair doesn't change over the course of them. It suits him. Also, I HATE his hair in Prisoner of Azkaban.
Hermione's hair is best in Deathly Hallows. I liked it in Sorcerer's Stone and Chamber of Secrets because it was true to the book, but every other book fails to match that. Keeping that in mind, I still like Deathly Hallows for her.
Fred and George's hair is best in Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows. It was cute in the first two movies. Then it got long and I didn't like it by any means. But it's super cute in the last movies. I love it.
Draco's hair is best in Prisoner of Askaban, Goblet of Fire, and Order of the Phoenix. In the first two films, the color was unnatural and the straight slicked back look was awful. And I'm not a fan of the slicked over to the side like in the last movies.
Neville's hair is best in Deathly Hallows, hands down. He looks like an actual grown-up man, not a child. It was cute in Prisoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire -- it was messy and dorky, but I love it. In Order of the Phoenix, however, it was terrible. I hate it.
Anyway , , ,
I'm done rambling about hair now. So I'm outta here.
Monday, December 17, 2012
DId Snape Ever Have A Chance?
During the Battle at Hogwarts, Snape is murdered by Voldemort and Nagini. Before he dies, however, he is able to pass on essential memories that will prepare Harry for his essential death by Lord Voldemort. Harry immerses himself into the memories and learns that he is a Horcrux and must die. More interesting, however, is what Harry sees about Snape's relationship with Lily.
From the very beginning, it is clear that, as a child, Snape was completely smitten by Lily because she was special and different, just like he was.
Lily appears to be interested in Snape as well because he was the first and only wizard she had ever met due to her status as a Muggle-Born. Snape had all the answers she needed and his presence was likely a comfort to her -- proof that she wasn't crazy and that she really was a witch.
From here, the movie shows their relationship severing when Lily is sorted into Gryffindor and Snape into Slytherin.
It is important to note, however, Lily is considered to be unfailingly kind to everyone -- no matter what house they were sorted into. So it is highly likely that she would still strive to be friends with Snape. For example, in their later years at Hogwarts, Lily defends Snape while James, her future husband, and his friends harass Snape in front of everyone in the courtyard.
The point being that Lily continued to maintain a friendship with Snape after their first year.
What happened then to end that relationship if it didn't have anything to do with them belonging to rival houses and Lily meeting James (like the movie leads you on to believe).
The answer is simple.
One word.
Even though Snape was being embarrassed and there were most likely his pure-blood friends were around, using that word on his oldest, best ((and only) friends was completely out of line.
There are just certain things you can say without losing the friendship. For Lily, that word was "Mudblood." She might have been able to ignore it from anyone else, but not from Snape her first magically-gifted friend who had been through so much together.
The question must be asked then -- What if Snape never called Lily a "mudblood"? Could they have gotten married and have children of their own? After all, he did love her and she could have had similar feelings until he opened his big mouth and ruined everything between them.
We'll never know for sure though, but I would like to think that maybe they could have had a lasting friendship at the very least.
From the very beginning, it is clear that, as a child, Snape was completely smitten by Lily because she was special and different, just like he was.
Lily appears to be interested in Snape as well because he was the first and only wizard she had ever met due to her status as a Muggle-Born. Snape had all the answers she needed and his presence was likely a comfort to her -- proof that she wasn't crazy and that she really was a witch.
From here, the movie shows their relationship severing when Lily is sorted into Gryffindor and Snape into Slytherin.
It is important to note, however, Lily is considered to be unfailingly kind to everyone -- no matter what house they were sorted into. So it is highly likely that she would still strive to be friends with Snape. For example, in their later years at Hogwarts, Lily defends Snape while James, her future husband, and his friends harass Snape in front of everyone in the courtyard.
The point being that Lily continued to maintain a friendship with Snape after their first year.
What happened then to end that relationship if it didn't have anything to do with them belonging to rival houses and Lily meeting James (like the movie leads you on to believe).
The answer is simple.
One word.
"MUDBLOOD"
Even though Snape was being embarrassed and there were most likely his pure-blood friends were around, using that word on his oldest, best ((and only) friends was completely out of line.
There are just certain things you can say without losing the friendship. For Lily, that word was "Mudblood." She might have been able to ignore it from anyone else, but not from Snape her first magically-gifted friend who had been through so much together.
The question must be asked then -- What if Snape never called Lily a "mudblood"? Could they have gotten married and have children of their own? After all, he did love her and she could have had similar feelings until he opened his big mouth and ruined everything between them.
We'll never know for sure though, but I would like to think that maybe they could have had a lasting friendship at the very least.
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