Re: It's interesting to look at the beginning of the story from Draco's point of view.
Camilla Send a noteboard - 26/07/2010 03:18:02 PM
Draco:
The comparison to Dudley sets him up as distasteful. But it is strange to see how everything he says in the first meeting is so clearly just a repetition of what he has heard from others (his father, mainly, I suppose). He is saying "the right thing" based on the circles he is used to, and does not seem aware that it is not on outside of that circle. He is trying to bond with Harry and is rejected.
And then he is rejected again in the train, while his lackeys are standing by. Like what she does with Dumbledore, Rowling gives the character first, then the background information: Ron only tells us Draco's family is Bad after Draco has shown himself to be bad, or at least contemptible, on his own.
As you say, the things he's saying on the first meeting are just the things his parents have been telling him all that time. I wonder if he's met Crabbe and Goyle before? It's tempting to see his situation when boarding the train as really rather similar to Harry's - alone, in a large group of children that he's never really had any contact with, and looking to make friends despite the handicap of his background. Then he meets Crabbe and Goyle and that altercation with Harry, Ron and Hermione happens - but if he hasn't met Crabbe and Goyle yet, all Draco is really doing in that scene is try to show off to his new friends the way his father always does, because that's how he's been taught to act. Then his early associations and those of his father determine his later course in Hogwarts, largely thanks to the system with the four houses which encourages clique formation and rivalry and strife, and in the end the evolution to budding Death Eater is a fairly natural one. The way his father buys him a spot on the Quidditch team in Chamber of Secrets is lame and pathetic in the eyes of the protagonists, but it also tells us that Draco is under significant pressure from his parents, who are interfering more with his life at Hogwarts and with his friends than he might actually like. I think he's rather lonely, despite the appearances, from the start, not just in book six. His bought or wowed friends can't be much of a support, especially not in competitive and merciless Slytherin.
He cannot possibly enjoy the company of Crabbe and Goyle. That is fairly obvious from the conversation we get when Harry and Ron sneak into the Slytherin common room as them. Yet they appear to be his closest friends. It could be that he has met them through his father, or that he knows their parents are affiliated with his father. But that is rather too much politics for a 11-yearold to handle, I feel.
One of Rowling's greatest strengths, as has been mentioned in several posts here already, is to write a children's story that has additional layers for adults without giving the children the feeling they're missing anything. I suppose it could be the benefit of hindsight that creates most of the shades of grey in these earliest novels, but for both Draco and Snape there is some grey even in this book when viewed alone.
Yes.
*MySmiley*
structured procrastinator
structured procrastinator
Harry Potter Re-read: The Philosopher's Stone - Final section underway! (& next book plans)
12/07/2010 08:27:51 AM
- 2938 Views
Chapters 1-3: Introducing Harry
12/07/2010 08:28:49 AM
- 1511 Views
Characterisation *NM*
12/07/2010 08:29:02 AM
- 860 Views
My thoughts, such as they are.
12/07/2010 04:09:55 PM
- 1558 Views
Re: My thoughts, such as they are. *spoilers*
12/07/2010 07:43:49 PM
- 1522 Views
Writing style *NM*
12/07/2010 08:29:18 AM
- 837 Views
It is very clear it is a children's book at this time
12/07/2010 07:18:14 PM
- 1571 Views
Vernon's slow descent into madness is great.
13/07/2010 04:03:26 AM
- 1553 Views
Re: Vernon's slow descent into madness is great.
13/07/2010 08:54:40 AM
- 1499 Views
Early themes *NM*
12/07/2010 08:29:37 AM
- 864 Views
Chapters 4-10: Making Friends at Hogwarts *NM*
12/07/2010 08:29:58 AM
- 792 Views
Impressions: thoughts about the school, the teachers, the enemies and the friends. *NM*
14/07/2010 08:29:38 AM
- 832 Views
I'd forgotten how annoying Hermione was
14/07/2010 01:48:13 PM
- 1426 Views
Yep. I like seeing her transformation in this story though.
14/07/2010 04:58:04 PM
- 1429 Views
Re: Yep. I like seeing her transformation in this story though.
14/07/2010 06:13:13 PM
- 1420 Views
Yes and, I think, this may be another candidate for early themes (from above)
14/07/2010 07:43:14 PM
- 1530 Views
Re: Impressions: thoughts about the school, the teachers, the enemies and the friends.
14/07/2010 04:22:54 PM
- 1566 Views
Agree. I loved the instant tension between Harry and Malfoy and with Harry and Snape too.
14/07/2010 05:03:20 PM
- 1687 Views
Some thoughts before I run off to the library again
14/07/2010 06:11:45 PM
- 1566 Views
It's interesting to look at the beginning of the story from Draco's point of view.
26/07/2010 03:08:38 PM
- 1646 Views
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
- 1307 Views
What about the magic?
14/07/2010 08:58:51 AM
- 1435 Views
The magic wasnt really developed at this point
14/07/2010 02:13:41 PM
- 1353 Views
Re: The magic wasnt really developed at this point
14/07/2010 08:53:08 PM
- 1588 Views
I think
14/07/2010 04:34:30 PM
- 1355 Views
Diagon Alley - Olivander's Foreshadowing
14/07/2010 05:11:40 PM
- 1636 Views
I really need a remembrall.
14/07/2010 08:57:10 PM
- 1460 Views
But it doesn't tell you what you've forgotten!
15/07/2010 02:51:47 AM
- 1633 Views
Chapters 11-17: Harry the Hero *NM*
12/07/2010 08:30:29 AM
- 805 Views
What'd you think of the ending? *NM*
15/07/2010 05:21:38 PM
- 772 Views
Two separate things:
15/07/2010 07:14:08 PM
- 1399 Views
Lovely
15/07/2010 09:00:11 PM
- 1481 Views
Haha
15/07/2010 09:16:16 PM
- 1570 Views
Re: Haha
15/07/2010 09:24:06 PM
- 1459 Views
But I thought all girls were made of sugar and spice and everything nice?
15/07/2010 09:26:53 PM
- 1364 Views
Oh, we are.
15/07/2010 09:35:17 PM
- 1268 Views
Honestly, dumbledore is a bit of an ass...
15/07/2010 10:48:32 PM
- 1268 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
- 750 Views
Overall thoughts for the book
12/07/2010 08:31:37 AM
- 1432 Views
Foreshadowing and setting up the future
12/07/2010 08:32:10 AM
- 1353 Views
Harry's anger management issues?
12/07/2010 07:14:58 PM
- 1424 Views
Heh.
12/07/2010 07:40:40 PM
- 1470 Views
Nah, not deliberate.
12/07/2010 09:14:20 PM
- 1522 Views
Re: Nah, not deliberate.
12/07/2010 09:55:32 PM
- 1433 Views
I noticed a lot of this.
12/07/2010 07:22:54 PM
- 1544 Views
Re: I noticed a lot of this.
12/07/2010 07:39:25 PM
- 1478 Views
Re: I noticed a lot of this.
12/07/2010 07:45:32 PM
- 1466 Views
On Ginny:
12/07/2010 10:36:47 PM
- 1488 Views
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
- 711 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
- 1690 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
- 1430 Views
So much (chapters 1-3) *spoilers*
12/07/2010 07:35:57 PM
- 1640 Views
I missed the school roof thing this time around too! Good catch there. *NM*
12/07/2010 09:22:21 PM
- 789 Views
The thing that tipped me off
12/07/2010 09:53:01 PM
- 1420 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
- 778 Views
You have to wonder why Hagrid and Dumbledore didn't suspect the truth about Sirius.
26/07/2010 04:04:05 PM
- 1347 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
- 1508 Views
Some stuff (chapters 4-11)
14/07/2010 09:18:35 PM
- 1618 Views
Re: Some stuff (chapters 4-11)
14/07/2010 10:30:23 PM
- 1420 Views
I can answer your consistency question!
15/07/2010 02:35:42 AM
- 1546 Views
More stuff (chapters 12-17)
15/07/2010 08:55:34 PM
- 1301 Views
Tiny tiny inconsistency (?) in Ch. 12
17/07/2010 04:23:15 PM
- 1537 Views
What made this book (and the rest of the series) such a success?
12/07/2010 08:33:00 AM
- 1515 Views
I think it was mostly because it was a simple narrative with an identifiable protagnonist.
13/07/2010 11:59:06 PM
- 1533 Views
It has tons of things in it that every kid dreams of doing
14/07/2010 01:56:05 PM
- 1529 Views
It's a simple, well-done little book.
12/07/2010 07:46:48 PM
- 1522 Views
you don't read instructions, do you?
12/07/2010 07:49:24 PM
- 1553 Views
When did you pick up this book?
12/07/2010 11:30:46 PM
- 1449 Views
I was 10.
13/07/2010 04:13:44 AM
- 1603 Views
Ah book orders...man you just brought back nostalgic memories. I miss being a kid
13/07/2010 04:42:12 AM
- 1658 Views
1999
13/07/2010 09:03:03 AM
- 1525 Views
What do you mean by adult version?
13/07/2010 02:15:40 PM
- 1627 Views
They started publishing copies with 'adult' covers so people wouldn't be caught out reading
13/07/2010 11:53:46 PM
- 1577 Views
Got a boxed set for Christmas when Order of the Phoenix came out in hardback.
13/07/2010 03:06:42 PM
- 1575 Views
The first five were out, waited for HBP.
14/07/2010 06:20:39 AM
- 1648 Views
Very early. Beginning of 1999, so it had just come out in the States. *NM*
14/07/2010 08:54:06 AM
- 970 Views
I held out quite awhile because I don't like "fads"
14/07/2010 02:04:37 PM
- 1497 Views
I did the same thing.
15/07/2010 06:39:16 AM
- 1590 Views
I would have, if I had known there was hype. I know I would have.
15/07/2010 03:28:50 PM
- 1611 Views
Aged 13 or 14 - a while before the first movie (which was Christmas 2001). *NM*
26/07/2010 04:13:55 PM
- 951 Views
Jesus Christ.
26/07/2010 05:04:46 PM
- 1623 Views
^That was me. *NM*
26/07/2010 09:55:49 PM
- 944 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
- 968 Views
Suggestions for the Re-read
12/07/2010 08:33:25 AM
- 1553 Views
This is my first official time participating and its been fun so far!
14/07/2010 05:16:48 PM
- 1491 Views
Unfortunately, no. (Silly me, pretending someone's still going to read all my posts... ) *NM*
26/07/2010 04:20:35 PM
- 969 Views
Inconsistencies Re: the Potter's death...
15/07/2010 05:16:45 AM
- 1875 Views
Because they were tricked? They considered Peter and Sirius to be brothers.
15/07/2010 07:05:27 AM
- 1531 Views
That's nonsense..
16/07/2010 01:08:40 AM
- 1446 Views
Take it up with Rowling, since you don't believe me. *NM*
16/07/2010 08:19:58 AM
- 866 Views
What's there to believe?
18/07/2010 06:03:13 AM
- 1541 Views
Peter + Sirius = family. I don't know how to explain it more simply. *NM*
18/07/2010 08:58:20 AM
- 991 Views
Re: That's nonsense..
16/07/2010 09:37:59 AM
- 1663 Views
Also
16/07/2010 11:17:51 AM
- 1892 Views
Huh?
18/07/2010 05:57:58 AM
- 1463 Views
But Camilla explained it!
18/07/2010 09:27:55 AM
- 1773 Views
I'm fairly certain you guys have that totally wrong...
18/07/2010 05:42:18 PM
- 1475 Views
Re: I'm fairly certain you guys have that totally wrong...
18/07/2010 05:51:36 PM
- 1491 Views
Re: I'm fairly certain you guys have that totally wrong...
18/07/2010 06:17:04 PM
- 1793 Views
Re: I'm fairly certain you guys have that totally wrong...
18/07/2010 06:28:27 PM
- 1491 Views
That bothers me too.
18/07/2010 07:17:14 PM
- 1559 Views
Re: That bothers me too.
18/07/2010 07:20:44 PM
- 1408 Views
Again...
18/07/2010 07:35:10 PM
- 1721 Views
Re: Again...
18/07/2010 08:00:55 PM
- 1513 Views
Re: Again...
19/07/2010 06:33:13 AM
- 1713 Views
Re: Again...
20/07/2010 04:45:16 PM
- 1520 Views
Yet another load of bosh.
21/07/2010 01:00:14 AM
- 1514 Views
It was just the sort of things these two daredevils would do...
14/09/2010 12:11:20 AM
- 1964 Views
Re: It was just the sort of things these two daredevils would do...
14/09/2010 09:20:46 AM
- 1421 Views
You have to wonder if that's actually true.
26/07/2010 04:23:31 PM
- 1505 Views
Since Lily and James were unable to leave the house
18/07/2010 07:14:21 PM
- 1468 Views
Re: Since Lily and James were unable to leave the house
26/07/2010 05:07:48 PM
- 1811 Views
^ And this, too, was me.
26/07/2010 09:58:07 PM
- 1532 Views