Yes and, I think, this may be another candidate for early themes (from above)
StormCrow Send a noteboard - 14/07/2010 07:43:14 PM
Breaking rules really is a characteristic of the good guys, isn't it? I mean, it is what McGonnagall does and Umbridge doesn't. It is what Dumbledore allows. It is what makes Hermoine acceptable as a friend...
There is a certain anti-authority edge to most of the good guys in the series. I think this plays, slightly, to the underdog card again, because we all pull for someone who's taking on the establishment, "the man" or a bully. This is especially the case with Umbridge and Filtch. We scoff at these rules, as most of them are silly and useless anyway, and everyone can identify with the students against these two. No one wants to be controlled at the level that these two aim for.
I always read McGonnagall as a strict teacher type, not allowing much by way of rule breaking. She gives the trio and Malfoy detention in this one, for being out of bed wandering around. She has her moments were she lets things slide (Harry's broom riding = seeker) and definitely tends to undermine Umbridge.
Dumbledore seems to be more of a break with convention kind of guy, coupled with a learn by experience mentality. He's so in tune with what these kids are doing that he only steps in when it appears one will be really hurt (up until Goblet of Fire anyway). He can't be everywhere at once, right? He did stop Harry from visiting the Mirror of Erised. He breaks with convention on the anti-discrimination stance (Hagrid, Lupin, Dobby, Firenze) and refusing to submit to the Ministry in Order of the Phoenix.
I don't think Dumbledore or McGonnagall want any student to be put in harm’s way, hence the rules to begin with. Dumbledore seems much more tolerant (and sometimes encouraging) in my mind though, especially if he anticipates a positive outcome. The ends justify the means, in his mind, as with saving Sirius and Buckbeek.
This message last edited by StormCrow on 14/07/2010 at 07:44:33 PM
Harry Potter Re-read: The Philosopher's Stone - Final section underway! (& next book plans)
12/07/2010 08:27:51 AM
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Chapters 1-3: Introducing Harry
12/07/2010 08:28:49 AM
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Characterisation *NM*
12/07/2010 08:29:02 AM
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My thoughts, such as they are.
12/07/2010 04:09:55 PM
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Re: My thoughts, such as they are. *spoilers*
12/07/2010 07:43:49 PM
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Writing style *NM*
12/07/2010 08:29:18 AM
- 839 Views
It is very clear it is a children's book at this time
12/07/2010 07:18:14 PM
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Vernon's slow descent into madness is great.
13/07/2010 04:03:26 AM
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Re: Vernon's slow descent into madness is great.
13/07/2010 08:54:40 AM
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Early themes *NM*
12/07/2010 08:29:37 AM
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Chapters 4-10: Making Friends at Hogwarts *NM*
12/07/2010 08:29:58 AM
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Impressions: thoughts about the school, the teachers, the enemies and the friends. *NM*
14/07/2010 08:29:38 AM
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I'd forgotten how annoying Hermione was
14/07/2010 01:48:13 PM
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Yep. I like seeing her transformation in this story though.
14/07/2010 04:58:04 PM
- 1433 Views
Re: Yep. I like seeing her transformation in this story though.
14/07/2010 06:13:13 PM
- 1423 Views
Yes and, I think, this may be another candidate for early themes (from above)
14/07/2010 07:43:14 PM
- 1535 Views
Re: Impressions: thoughts about the school, the teachers, the enemies and the friends.
14/07/2010 04:22:54 PM
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Agree. I loved the instant tension between Harry and Malfoy and with Harry and Snape too.
14/07/2010 05:03:20 PM
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Some thoughts before I run off to the library again
14/07/2010 06:11:45 PM
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It's interesting to look at the beginning of the story from Draco's point of view.
26/07/2010 03:08:38 PM
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Re: It's interesting to look at the beginning of the story from Draco's point of view.
26/07/2010 03:18:02 PM
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What about the magic?
14/07/2010 08:58:51 AM
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The magic wasnt really developed at this point
14/07/2010 02:13:41 PM
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Re: The magic wasnt really developed at this point
14/07/2010 08:53:08 PM
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I think
14/07/2010 04:34:30 PM
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Diagon Alley - Olivander's Foreshadowing
14/07/2010 05:11:40 PM
- 1642 Views
I really need a remembrall.
14/07/2010 08:57:10 PM
- 1466 Views
But it doesn't tell you what you've forgotten!
15/07/2010 02:51:47 AM
- 1636 Views
Chapters 11-17: Harry the Hero *NM*
12/07/2010 08:30:29 AM
- 807 Views
What'd you think of the ending? *NM*
15/07/2010 05:21:38 PM
- 774 Views
Two separate things:
15/07/2010 07:14:08 PM
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Lovely
15/07/2010 09:00:11 PM
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Haha
15/07/2010 09:16:16 PM
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Re: Haha
15/07/2010 09:24:06 PM
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But I thought all girls were made of sugar and spice and everything nice?
15/07/2010 09:26:53 PM
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Oh, we are.
15/07/2010 09:35:17 PM
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Honestly, dumbledore is a bit of an ass...
15/07/2010 10:48:32 PM
- 1273 Views
The decades of manipulation of a child doesn't bother you, but the House Cup does? *NM*
15/07/2010 11:37:54 PM
- 752 Views
Overall thoughts for the book
12/07/2010 08:31:37 AM
- 1436 Views
Foreshadowing and setting up the future
12/07/2010 08:32:10 AM
- 1359 Views
Harry's anger management issues?
12/07/2010 07:14:58 PM
- 1428 Views
Heh.
12/07/2010 07:40:40 PM
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Nah, not deliberate.
12/07/2010 09:14:20 PM
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Re: Nah, not deliberate.
12/07/2010 09:55:32 PM
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I noticed a lot of this.
12/07/2010 07:22:54 PM
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Re: I noticed a lot of this.
12/07/2010 07:39:25 PM
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Re: I noticed a lot of this.
12/07/2010 07:45:32 PM
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On Ginny:
12/07/2010 10:36:47 PM
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This was my interpretation too and why I didn't pay much attention to it at the time. *NM*
13/07/2010 02:53:08 PM
- 713 Views
I've noticed a lot of the same things, probably because I've reread this book so many times...
13/07/2010 04:45:28 AM
- 1694 Views
Re: I've noticed a lot of the same things, probably because I've reread this book so many times...
13/07/2010 08:58:10 AM
- 1434 Views
So much (chapters 1-3) *spoilers*
12/07/2010 07:35:57 PM
- 1644 Views
I missed the school roof thing this time around too! Good catch there. *NM*
12/07/2010 09:22:21 PM
- 791 Views
The thing that tipped me off
12/07/2010 09:53:01 PM
- 1427 Views
Imagine how easy his test would have been if he remembered he'd done it as a child! *NM*
13/07/2010 03:20:27 PM
- 780 Views
You have to wonder why Hagrid and Dumbledore didn't suspect the truth about Sirius.
26/07/2010 04:04:05 PM
- 1353 Views
I re-read a couple weeks ago, and I was highly amused by all the little things she worked in
14/07/2010 04:09:19 AM
- 1511 Views
Some stuff (chapters 4-11)
14/07/2010 09:18:35 PM
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Re: Some stuff (chapters 4-11)
14/07/2010 10:30:23 PM
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I can answer your consistency question!
15/07/2010 02:35:42 AM
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More stuff (chapters 12-17)
15/07/2010 08:55:34 PM
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Tiny tiny inconsistency (?) in Ch. 12
17/07/2010 04:23:15 PM
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What made this book (and the rest of the series) such a success?
12/07/2010 08:33:00 AM
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I think it was mostly because it was a simple narrative with an identifiable protagnonist.
13/07/2010 11:59:06 PM
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It has tons of things in it that every kid dreams of doing
14/07/2010 01:56:05 PM
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It's a simple, well-done little book.
12/07/2010 07:46:48 PM
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you don't read instructions, do you?
12/07/2010 07:49:24 PM
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When did you pick up this book?
12/07/2010 11:30:46 PM
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I was 10.
13/07/2010 04:13:44 AM
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Ah book orders...man you just brought back nostalgic memories. I miss being a kid
13/07/2010 04:42:12 AM
- 1662 Views
1999
13/07/2010 09:03:03 AM
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What do you mean by adult version?
13/07/2010 02:15:40 PM
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They started publishing copies with 'adult' covers so people wouldn't be caught out reading
13/07/2010 11:53:46 PM
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Got a boxed set for Christmas when Order of the Phoenix came out in hardback.
13/07/2010 03:06:42 PM
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The first five were out, waited for HBP.
14/07/2010 06:20:39 AM
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Very early. Beginning of 1999, so it had just come out in the States. *NM*
14/07/2010 08:54:06 AM
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I held out quite awhile because I don't like "fads"
14/07/2010 02:04:37 PM
- 1501 Views
I did the same thing.
15/07/2010 06:39:16 AM
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I would have, if I had known there was hype. I know I would have.
15/07/2010 03:28:50 PM
- 1616 Views
Aged 13 or 14 - a while before the first movie (which was Christmas 2001). *NM*
26/07/2010 04:13:55 PM
- 953 Views
Jesus Christ.
26/07/2010 05:04:46 PM
- 1627 Views
^That was me. *NM*
26/07/2010 09:55:49 PM
- 946 Views
Aw. I was just feeling flattered as I didn't think Tor had read that many of my posts. *NM*
27/07/2010 12:15:52 AM
- 970 Views
Suggestions for the Re-read
12/07/2010 08:33:25 AM
- 1557 Views
This is my first official time participating and its been fun so far!
14/07/2010 05:16:48 PM
- 1496 Views
Unfortunately, no. (Silly me, pretending someone's still going to read all my posts... ) *NM*
26/07/2010 04:20:35 PM
- 971 Views
Inconsistencies Re: the Potter's death...
15/07/2010 05:16:45 AM
- 1880 Views
Because they were tricked? They considered Peter and Sirius to be brothers.
15/07/2010 07:05:27 AM
- 1537 Views
That's nonsense..
16/07/2010 01:08:40 AM
- 1451 Views
Take it up with Rowling, since you don't believe me. *NM*
16/07/2010 08:19:58 AM
- 868 Views
What's there to believe?
18/07/2010 06:03:13 AM
- 1549 Views
Peter + Sirius = family. I don't know how to explain it more simply. *NM*
18/07/2010 08:58:20 AM
- 993 Views
Re: That's nonsense..
16/07/2010 09:37:59 AM
- 1668 Views
Also
16/07/2010 11:17:51 AM
- 1896 Views
Huh?
18/07/2010 05:57:58 AM
- 1468 Views
But Camilla explained it!
18/07/2010 09:27:55 AM
- 1777 Views
I'm fairly certain you guys have that totally wrong...
18/07/2010 05:42:18 PM
- 1479 Views
Re: I'm fairly certain you guys have that totally wrong...
18/07/2010 05:51:36 PM
- 1497 Views
Re: I'm fairly certain you guys have that totally wrong...
18/07/2010 06:17:04 PM
- 1797 Views
Re: I'm fairly certain you guys have that totally wrong...
18/07/2010 06:28:27 PM
- 1496 Views
That bothers me too.
18/07/2010 07:17:14 PM
- 1563 Views
Re: That bothers me too.
18/07/2010 07:20:44 PM
- 1412 Views
Again...
18/07/2010 07:35:10 PM
- 1725 Views
Re: Again...
18/07/2010 08:00:55 PM
- 1519 Views
Re: Again...
19/07/2010 06:33:13 AM
- 1717 Views
Re: Again...
20/07/2010 04:45:16 PM
- 1525 Views
Yet another load of bosh.
21/07/2010 01:00:14 AM
- 1520 Views
It was just the sort of things these two daredevils would do...
14/09/2010 12:11:20 AM
- 1968 Views
Re: It was just the sort of things these two daredevils would do...
14/09/2010 09:20:46 AM
- 1425 Views
You have to wonder if that's actually true.
26/07/2010 04:23:31 PM
- 1510 Views
Since Lily and James were unable to leave the house
18/07/2010 07:14:21 PM
- 1474 Views
Re: Since Lily and James were unable to leave the house
26/07/2010 05:07:48 PM
- 1815 Views
^ And this, too, was me.
26/07/2010 09:58:07 PM
- 1538 Views