Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Reaction Thread - SPOILERS!!!!

me | 7/21/2007 | me

[JenB]

So you finally know what happens to Harry. All our questions are answered. Or not. What are your reactions? Whose death hurt the most? Do you want more, and about whom?

SPOILERS are ok on this thread! You have been warned!

Wow. It's over.

[Mygirlsmom]

I believe it was also a good lesson to see Dumbledore’s character flaws - that he wasn’t this totally perfect, extra-human goodie goodie; that he could finally acknowledge that in front of someone who hero worshipped him, and still manage to mentor him successfully.

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

Yes, you're right, a lot of the "wandering in the wilderness" can be passed over or cut out... but I rather liked reading it, too. It was sort of fascinating reading it and waiting for something to happen... watching the characters relationships gradually fray until it all blew up with Ron leaving.

[Tangerine Time Machine]

I cried about Dobby, then I cried again when Luna visited his grave.

Poor Luna. To judge by her bedroom, she didn't have any real friends in her own House. Do you get the feeling that Cho and Marietta were in the cliche of Ravenclaw girls gossiping about her and hiding her things?

[patriciaruth]

Wandering in the Wilderness

Wow! That's insightful!!

[discostu]

I would have gotten it, but I like tragedies and I like stories that mess with you. I’m not sure I would have liked it more, but I would have liked it. But I think there would have been a serious uprising, you definitely wouldn’t have been alone in hating the ending.

[TightyRighty]

I wondered why Fawkes didn’t come and revive Snape but he led such a sad life with his unrequited love that he wouldn’t have been happy. I wonder if he’s in a portrait in the headmasters office?

[patriciaruth]

My nephew liked the fleshing out of Dumbledore also, and that he had flaws in his youth.

[Mygirlsmom]

And as a wizened adult, as well. Don’t forget he put on the cursed ring because he was still taken with its power.

[Sloth]

Petunia decided to hate a world she could not be a part of rather than be happy for her sister, and it poisoned her life.

I haven't seen anyone on this thread mention it, but this book doesn't seem to shed much light on the significance of the 'Remember my last...' message from Dumbledore to Petunia in OOTP... there was mention of her writing to Dumbledore as a child, and him sending a polite reply, but 1.) that wasn't really his "last" correspondence, because he did leave a letter with infant Harry, IIRC, and 2.) even if it was, what would that have to do with the context of throwing Harry out of the house in OOTP?

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

Well, that's sort of a standard in these sorts of stories... the Hero must have a period of time before the final confrontation with the Villain in order to reflect on his life and struggles, re-dedicate himself to his task, etc. Often the Hero will be forced to live as an outcast, spend time in prison, or undergo some other sort of lengthy physical trial.

[Accygirl]

It isn’t a tragedy unless Harry dies because of his fatal flaw. In classic tragedies (think Shakespeare), the characters are brought down by themselves, by their own flaws. I wouldn’t consider anyone’s death in the Deathly Hallows to be a tragedy, even Snape. Snape didn’t die because of his own flaws; he died because of Dumbledore’s plan.

I think that Harry’s death would be sad, but it wouldn’t be tragic. It would have been following a tried and true formula called The Hero’s Journey. It would have been an interesting twist on the formula to have Harry’s death be the actual final triumph. J.K. Rowlings pointed out again and again in the book (and in the series) that death isn’t always a tragedy. It’s sad for the living, but I wouldn’t say that Harry dying, really dying, and killing Voldemort in the process would be tragic (heroic more likely).

BTW, literary geeks aren’t turned on by either a classic tragedy or a classic hero’s journey; they’d probably salivate at no resolution ala black screen on the Sopranos.

[TightyRighty]

I guess it must have been a bitter pill to swallow that Dumbledore wouldn’t let her go to Hogwarts but then wanted her to keep Harry.

[patriciaruth]

I thought he put on the ring because he wanted to bring his family back to life, he was still unable to accept what he had done couldn’t be undone.

[patriciaruth]

Actually “readciton” is rather intriquing.

Thanks for the thread!

[sockmonkey]

Haven't seen the movie version of OOTP yet

Go see it at the Imax so you can see the fight at the Ministry of Magic in 3D.

I went to the Premiere in Birmingham at the Imax dome..Leaning back in your seat,surrounded by the screen was cool, but talk about motion sickness when they are flying on their brooms.

When I went to see it at the regular Imax in San Antonio where they have 3D, that was neat, too.Love the old timey 3-D glasses.

[Ciexyz]

I'll admit that JKR did set up a connection between Hermione and Ron early on, so that it's not unexpected that they get married. Well, may they live together in peace. :-)

[Ciexyz]

Poor Snape, I think he's my favorite character just because he's such a tortured soul.

[Dianna]

During HP's Divination class, which was being overseen by the evil Umbridge, Trelawney weepingly told the class that HP wasn't about to die, he would become the youngest ever Minister of Magic, and he would have 12 kids. I thought it was hilarious.

I had forgotten that! Yeah, that would've been a good end.

[Ciexyz]

Some prior speculation had Hagrid as one of the most likely to bite the dust. Interesting how JKR worked things out.

[TightyRighty]

I know what you mean but I have to agree with someone else - I don’t know if I would have found him as intriguing if someone besides Rickman was playing him.