“There has to be an equal and opposite action.”, Discussion of implication of this quote |
| -minime_ |
 Aug 23 2005, 06:56 PM
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During the Memmerson interview JKR made this statement, “there has to be an equal and opposite action.” Listening to Melissa repeat this line in the Pottercast has got me thinking about the equal and opposite actions and the equal and opposite characters. For example, when we learn Quirrel was trying to kill Harry, Snape was busy trying to save him. In PoA, we see that dementors have the power to suck the happiness out of a person, but they are fought off with person’s happiest thoughts, a boggart is a person’s worst fear realized, but laughter defeats it. You get the picture. I also see books two and six, three and five, and one and seven as equal and opposite of each other. Anyway, I tend to think that most of the characters (if not all) have equal and opposite counterparts or, maybe, if you will, foils*. And this is what I’m most interested in. I have a few theories on character counterparts, which I list below, but I’m fascinated to see if others agree, disagree, or have completely different ideas other than my own.
Harry vs. Neville Dumbledore vs. Voldemort The Dursley’s vs. the Potters Ron vs. Draco Hermione vs. Luna Ginny vs. Cho Slughorn vs. Lockheart Lupin vs. Pettigrew Snape vs. Sirius Weasley’s vs. Malfoy’s McGonagall vs. Trewlaney Ok, this is all I have so far. I’m very interested to know opinions *also, please note, that although I think this gives clarity to character analysis, I don’t think that this always means black versus white or good versus bad. For example, Harry and Neville, Neville emphasizes certain characteristics in Harry. Their life paths have been very similar yet both have turned out very differently. For those who don’t know what foil means, wikipedia defines it as such: QUOTE A foil character is either one who is in most ways opposite to the main character or nearly the same as the main character. The purpose of the foil character is to emphasize the traits of the main character by comparison or contrast. ** sorry mods, not sure where to place this |
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 Aug 23 2005, 08:48 PM
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Flesh-Eating-Slug Catcher  Posts: 191 Joined: 10:19pm August 13, 2005 Location: Bristol, RI USA |
Interesting Ideas...
To me; Tom Riddle and Harry are two sides of the same persona. One is what the other could have become. Harry could have easily become just as absent in Love. Tom Riddle's struggle is to become (or never be) the complete Self (aka: the HERO, aka: HARRY). They are eternal enemies: Harry who breaks through the thresholds, ignites and spawns like the Phoenix, Riddle who refuses to accept Nature's path. Dumbledore and Voldemort. Dumbledore is the wisened "sorcerer" who shows the virtue of crossing thresholds: having crossed them himself and finds great power. Voldemort is the "monster" who hinders the Hero's passage: having refused to make the journey himself. Both are the final destiny of the Harry (hero) and Tom (anti-hero?). Neville and Wormtail. I see Neville and Harry being very similar; both exceptionally brave and "well-adjusted", but Neville, while less capable and aggressive than Harry, redeems himself by being stubbornly Loyal. Wormtail is a Neville without loyalty, a nasty yet pitiful character. -------------------- PROUD 31st - EvilFlitwickEntourage!!
S.C.A.R.S. "He's dot alone! He's still god be!" - NL Bold Gryffindor, from wild moor, Fair Ravenclaw, from glen, Sweet Hufflepuff, from valley broad, Shrewd Slytherin, from fen. They shared a wish, a hope, a dream, They hatched a daring plan... |
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Aug 23 2005, 11:55 PM
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Stocking Snitches at Quality Quidditch Supplies Posts: 665 Joined: 11:32am June 4, 2005 |
GodricSmile, I love the distinction you make between Tom Riddle and Voldemort, I think this is very appropriate.
Off the top of my head, I would add Dobby and Kreacher, which should have been obvious even before they met, but gets us right in the face in HBP. Like Harry and Tom, we can note that Dobby came from the Malfoy's, and doubtless experienced life much as Kreacher did, but came out of it differently. The completely opposing world views they have are so extreme as to be comical, but still sum up the opposing forces and natures within the series. -------------------- "Haven't you noticed, Professor, how the people Snape hates tend to end up dead?"
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| -minime_ |
Aug 24 2005, 03:21 AM
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QUOTE(GodricSmile @ Aug. 23 2005,6:48 pm) Interesting Ideas... To me; Tom Riddle and Harry are two sides of the same persona. One is what the other could have become. Harry could have easily become just as absent in Love. Tom Riddle's struggle is to become (or never be) the complete Self (aka: the HERO, aka: HARRY). They are eternal enemies: Harry who breaks through the thresholds, ignites and spawns like the Phoenix, Riddle who refuses to accept Nature's path. Tom and Harry!! :headdesk: yes, of course, I agree with this one too, very astute. Although, Peter and Neville, I’m not sure. Harry does makes the comparison between the two, but Harry is very off on Peter's character at the time. However I do understand your distinction, and there is truth to it. |
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Aug 24 2005, 04:17 AM
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Flesh-Eating-Slug Catcher Posts: 195 Joined: 1:38pm July 22, 2005 Location: St Joseph MO |
I very much like the Peter Neville comparison. I also like the distinction between Voldemort and Tom.
-------------------- "Nobody's ever asked me to a party before, as a friend! Is that why you dyed your eyebrow, for the party? Should I do mine, too?"
"I enjoyed the meetings, too. It was like having friends." |
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Aug 24 2005, 09:51 AM
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Assistant Stargazer to Firenze  Posts: 1,092 Joined: 12:37pm July 16, 2005 Location: I want to be a part of it ... New York, New York   |
I agree, minime. Good observation. I think GodricSmile is closer with Tom/Harry and Peter/Neville comparisons, but the rest of yours seem to work. The main characters especially seem to have foils or counterparts, while the minor characters are harder to pinpoint.
Regarding Hermione/Luna...definitely! I think they represent the two opposite ends of the spectrum. I know this has been stated previously by others, but it bears reiterating. Hermione takes logic to the absolute extreme, while Luna relies solely on intuition or ~vibes~. Hermione thinks this way of thinking is as "wooly" as divination, while Luna would be too confined by Hermione's scientific approach, which leaves little room for the invisibles, the unprovables, the ideas that just require a leap of faith. Clearly we are being shown that both ways of thinking are valid...Luna is intelligent (Ravenclaw), capable, loyal (DA)but a bit naive, while Hermione is obviously brilliant, but at times relies too much on logic and can't break away from her tower of books she uses as a shield. It would be really amazing if these two would take a leaf from each other's books in the final story! What trait does Ginny have that Cho lacks? Willpower? Determination? Cho's flaw, to me, was that she was more concerned with being surrounded by friends and flirting with the "popular boy" than with fighting evil. Her goofy friend she brought to meetings was the one who betrayed the DA. This is a horrible crime! Cho didn't even seem sorry that it happened, either. She was superficial. So is Ginny more concerned with what's on the inside then? Interesting ponderings....I like Lax Scrutiny's observations about he house-elves as well. 
--------------------  I called it - June 2007 |
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Aug 24 2005, 10:11 AM
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Disgruntled House-Elf at The Leaky Cauldron Posts: 424 Joined: 4:26pm January 31, 2005 Location: Minnesota USA |
I agree with the Neville and Wormtail comparison... one so detestable and one so loveable.
The "equal and opposite action" I think was pertaining to the magic and the consequences thereof... interesting when you ask what is the equal action to the killing curse? -------------------- "But he's only quacking!"  |
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Aug 24 2005, 10:19 AM
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Diagon Alley Magical Bricklayer Posts: 2,876 Joined: 8:17pm June 28, 2005 Location: waiting on summer |
I read the interview and I remember thinking - this is a clue to the ending - but then promptly forgot about it as I struggle(d) with the Snape issue.
It seems to me that Snape is a perfect example of causing both sides of the equal and opposite reactions. He seems to do a bit of "good" and "bad" in each story. We have no idea (theories only! :clap: ) what side Snape actually belongs to - if any. I would also add: Horcrux/Whole Soul. What would be the counter to murder? Love, in some form? AW said in the podcast she thinks forgiveness. I'm not bought into that one yet. Self-sacrifice makes more sense to me, although I'd like for it to not be that way. Hey, Luke got to live in Star Wars! -------------------- "
It's not just the books under fire now that worry me. It is the books that will never be written. The books that will never be read. And all due to the fear of censorship. As always, young readers will be the real losers." J. Blume |
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Aug 24 2005, 12:05 PM
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#9
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Flesh-Eating-Slug Catcher Posts: 191 Joined: 10:19pm August 13, 2005 Location: Bristol, RI USA |
QUOTE(hpaddict @ Aug. 24 2005,11:19 ) What would be the counter to murder? Love, in some form? AW said in the podcast she thinks forgiveness. I'm not bought into that one yet. Self-sacrifice makes more sense to me, although I'd like for it to not be that way. Hey, Luke got to live in Star Wars!  Well, since you brought it up... LUKE gives in, unlike his father, and refuses to fight. He'd rather be killed than kill. LUKE certainly sacrificed himself, but remained alive becaue his sacrifice inspired VADER to complete his journey (SELF-SACRIFICE). Maybe the WILLINGNESS to sacrifice one's life is what's important, not the DEATH. I foresee this happening to HARRY; his willingness to face DEATH will inspire the SACRIFICE of another..... perhaps WORMTAIL? :conf: -------------------- PROUD 31st - EvilFlitwickEntourage!!
S.C.A.R.S. "He's dot alone! He's still god be!" - NL Bold Gryffindor, from wild moor, Fair Ravenclaw, from glen, Sweet Hufflepuff, from valley broad, Shrewd Slytherin, from fen. They shared a wish, a hope, a dream, They hatched a daring plan... |
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Aug 24 2005, 03:10 PM
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#10
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Diagon Alley Magical Bricklayer Posts: 2,876 Joined: 8:17pm June 28, 2005 Location: waiting on summer |
QUOTE I foresee this happening to HARRY; his willingness to face DEATH will inspire the SACRIFICE of another..... perhaps WORMTAIL? I actually think Snape... -------------------- "
It's not just the books under fire now that worry me. It is the books that will never be written. The books that will never be read. And all due to the fear of censorship. As always, young readers will be the real losers." J. Blume |
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