[Accygirl]

If that was the case, then the death and torture throughout the book would have been minimized. Rowlings didn’t mind describing a scene straight out of Nazi Germany (The Muggle-born wizards at the ministry) or Hermione being tortured, but she was afraid that eight-year-olds might be upset that Harry died... If she was writing for young children, I think that the darker episodes in the book would have been more sanitized.

Unfortunately, I do think that Rowlings (or more likely her publishers) were servicing her base... Tweens and Teens. But I think that most of Rowlings eleven - sixteen year old fanbase could have survived a darker ending. It’s a pity that instead of exposing these teens to a darker ending and thereby getting them excited about classic literature, Rowlings decided to pander to them and make her ending.. like Disney teen.

[Corin Stormhands]

If that was the case, then the death and torture throughout the book would have been minimized. Rowlings didn’t mind describing a scene straight out of Nazi Germany (The Muggle-born wizards at the ministry) or Hermione being tortured, but she was afraid that eight-year-olds might be upset that Harry died...

Ohfercryinoutloud, Mommy never read you any "happily ever after stories" did she?

As Jen said upthread. It's a fairy tale. Awful things happen, but good wins in the end. I seriously doubt J.K. Rowling was "afraid that eight-year-olds might be upset."

But I think that she, obviously unlike you, understood the audience for which she was writing.

It wasn't me. It wasn't you.

[andyssister]

. It’s a pity that instead of exposing these teens to a darker ending and thereby getting them excited about classic literature, Rowlings decided to pander to them and make her ending.. like Disney teen.

How do you know this? Maybe, just maybe, Jo wrote the story the way she wanted to. No pandering, no editorial pressure, etc.

I suspect that at this stage of the game, JKRowling is calling all the shots.

To paraphrase Dumbledore: "This is, as they say, her party."

And the last name is Rowling, not Rowlings.

[Ramius]

If that was the case, then the death and torture throughout the book would have been minimized. Rowlings didn’t mind describing a scene straight out of Nazi Germany (The Muggle-born wizards at the ministry) or Hermione being tortured, but she was afraid that eight-year-olds might be upset that Harry died... If she was writing for young children, I think that the darker episodes in the book would have been more sanitized.

I would disagree. Grimms Fairy Tales is simply chock full of imagery that couldn't make an R rating today.

Or childrens' prayers taught for many years:

Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake I pray to God my soul to take.

"If I should die before I wake"?? What sort of message is that for children? :-)