rurounihime (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
rurounihime) wrote2007-08-03 08:04 pm
rurounihime) wrote2007-08-03 08:04 pm
Oh lordy, time for a rant...
Yes, I'm a slow ass. No, I haven't finished Deathly Hallows.
But I just HAD to comment on something that I have read so far.
If there is anyone left who is as slow as me at finishing this book, HERE BE YOUR SPOILER ALERT.
Remus: All hail Harry Potter, godfather to my child! Squeeeee and Tonks-squeeeee!
That makes a lot of sense.
'Cause... why?
*frowns*
I am a citizen of the USA. Maybe godparenthood means something different in the UK. But here, among the other bits about closeness and friendship with the birth parents, it also implies that, should anything happen to the birth parents, the godparent(s) will step in and take the child in, provide a home, an education, safety, support, and general rearing as the birth parents intended to raise their child. And seeing as there is a Wizarding war in full swing, such a situation is a lot more likely for Remus and Tonks than it would be during times of peace.
Is there not a distinct problem with this?
I feel like I am being forced to acknowledge Harry's maturity yet again. Hey, I think he's matured. You've sold me, JK, I buy it, I believe it, I revel in it because he is finally coming into his own. I think he is a capable, powerful, iconic leader with the intelligence and ability to save the wizarding world.
Do I think Harry can raise a war-orphaned child? No, I do not. Harry is a boy, regardless of how mature he is proving to be, and he not only has no actual home to speak of, but no means of providing for said child should the need arise, which it stands a fair chance of doing in the current life and times of British wizardom. Rowling forbid Remus or Tonks should die. I don't want that, you don't want that (I wager), and none of those other people in the book want that. Except Voldemort (whoops, broke my wards) and Bellatrix.
Do I think that Harry would end up being the sole provider for the child? No. Andromeda is there, as are the Weasleys, Kingsley Shacklebolt and friends, and of course, Ron, Hermione, Luna, Neville and Ginny, should things REALLY come right down to the bare essentials. I have no doubt Harry would have plenty of help. But come on. A godfather? Let's all celebrate the most transparent display of "all hail Harry, the new and improved GROWN-UP Boy Who Lived, who is now following in his own godfather's footsteps, oh, weep-with-joy!" that the series has offered thus far.
I feel blatantly manipulated. And anyone who knows me knows that I loathe blatant author manipulation more than almost anything else when I read.
I also feel like common sense has picked up and gone on holiday. And the absence of common sense takes a very close second.
Sirius may not have been the most attentive and appropriate godfather, but he definitely had the means to feed and clothe Harry (barring the stint in Azkaban, which I don't think any of us could control), and he MOST CERTAINLY had the means when James and Lily first named him godfather. Harry has no way of giving this child a life. He barely has the wherewithal to give himself any sort of life.
The smart thing to do would have been to appoint the Weasleys as godparents. Yes, it's war, and yes, our favourite redheads are in dire straits, not working and all. But they are far more equipped than the current godfather is, on a mental level at the very least. Instead, we have another thing placed on the shoulders of a kid-- A KID-- who already has enough on his plate. It feels very foolish to me, an empty gesture meant to show appreciation when "I'm sorry I went all WONKY in the BASEMENT of your HOUSE" just won't cover it. Like, oh, Harry was right and I was wrong, let me give him my child's well-being to make amends.
What really bugs me is that everyone else was totally thrilled about it. I would have expected Hermione and Bill, at the very least, to frown worriedly and say, "Thanks for the show of faith, but I think maybe it would be better for everyone if..."
Next thing you know, Tonks will be appointing Ginny godmother extraordinaire because as everyone knows, she and Harry are a match made in the stars. I mean, come on, how can any of us argue with that? Everyone in the books has had SIXTEEN WHOLE YEARS to figure it out. That's, like, forever. That's, like, duh. *pukes*
I tell you. First Tonks goes bonkers. Now Remus is starting with the Stoopid. It's a sign: there is conspiracy afoot! Their child is the harbinger of dooooooom! Watch out, Voldemort!
*rolls whole head because eyes are just not enough*
ETA: Well, it seems my "godparents as legal guardians" issue is not a widely practiced thing among my f-list. *laughs* Alas! So this observation and concern comes from my own personal background. Still, I hold to a lot of what I said about Harry being emotionally unprepared for such a role. And I still feel manipulated. *sigh*
But I just HAD to comment on something that I have read so far.
If there is anyone left who is as slow as me at finishing this book, HERE BE YOUR SPOILER ALERT.
Remus: All hail Harry Potter, godfather to my child! Squeeeee and Tonks-squeeeee!
That makes a lot of sense.
'Cause... why?
*frowns*
I am a citizen of the USA. Maybe godparenthood means something different in the UK. But here, among the other bits about closeness and friendship with the birth parents, it also implies that, should anything happen to the birth parents, the godparent(s) will step in and take the child in, provide a home, an education, safety, support, and general rearing as the birth parents intended to raise their child. And seeing as there is a Wizarding war in full swing, such a situation is a lot more likely for Remus and Tonks than it would be during times of peace.
Is there not a distinct problem with this?
I feel like I am being forced to acknowledge Harry's maturity yet again. Hey, I think he's matured. You've sold me, JK, I buy it, I believe it, I revel in it because he is finally coming into his own. I think he is a capable, powerful, iconic leader with the intelligence and ability to save the wizarding world.
Do I think Harry can raise a war-orphaned child? No, I do not. Harry is a boy, regardless of how mature he is proving to be, and he not only has no actual home to speak of, but no means of providing for said child should the need arise, which it stands a fair chance of doing in the current life and times of British wizardom. Rowling forbid Remus or Tonks should die. I don't want that, you don't want that (I wager), and none of those other people in the book want that. Except Voldemort (whoops, broke my wards) and Bellatrix.
Do I think that Harry would end up being the sole provider for the child? No. Andromeda is there, as are the Weasleys, Kingsley Shacklebolt and friends, and of course, Ron, Hermione, Luna, Neville and Ginny, should things REALLY come right down to the bare essentials. I have no doubt Harry would have plenty of help. But come on. A godfather? Let's all celebrate the most transparent display of "all hail Harry, the new and improved GROWN-UP Boy Who Lived, who is now following in his own godfather's footsteps, oh, weep-with-joy!" that the series has offered thus far.
I feel blatantly manipulated. And anyone who knows me knows that I loathe blatant author manipulation more than almost anything else when I read.
I also feel like common sense has picked up and gone on holiday. And the absence of common sense takes a very close second.
Sirius may not have been the most attentive and appropriate godfather, but he definitely had the means to feed and clothe Harry (barring the stint in Azkaban, which I don't think any of us could control), and he MOST CERTAINLY had the means when James and Lily first named him godfather. Harry has no way of giving this child a life. He barely has the wherewithal to give himself any sort of life.
The smart thing to do would have been to appoint the Weasleys as godparents. Yes, it's war, and yes, our favourite redheads are in dire straits, not working and all. But they are far more equipped than the current godfather is, on a mental level at the very least. Instead, we have another thing placed on the shoulders of a kid-- A KID-- who already has enough on his plate. It feels very foolish to me, an empty gesture meant to show appreciation when "I'm sorry I went all WONKY in the BASEMENT of your HOUSE" just won't cover it. Like, oh, Harry was right and I was wrong, let me give him my child's well-being to make amends.
What really bugs me is that everyone else was totally thrilled about it. I would have expected Hermione and Bill, at the very least, to frown worriedly and say, "Thanks for the show of faith, but I think maybe it would be better for everyone if..."
Next thing you know, Tonks will be appointing Ginny godmother extraordinaire because as everyone knows, she and Harry are a match made in the stars. I mean, come on, how can any of us argue with that? Everyone in the books has had SIXTEEN WHOLE YEARS to figure it out. That's, like, forever. That's, like, duh. *pukes*
I tell you. First Tonks goes bonkers. Now Remus is starting with the Stoopid. It's a sign: there is conspiracy afoot! Their child is the harbinger of dooooooom! Watch out, Voldemort!
*rolls whole head because eyes are just not enough*
ETA: Well, it seems my "godparents as legal guardians" issue is not a widely practiced thing among my f-list. *laughs* Alas! So this observation and concern comes from my own personal background. Still, I hold to a lot of what I said about Harry being emotionally unprepared for such a role. And I still feel manipulated. *sigh*
no subject
I'm trying to get to the bottom of this here, but it's hard! Part of why I liked the gesture was probably the turned-tables-effect. Before, Remus was Harry's Professor and someone he looked up to. Then came the nervous breakdown and Harry had to see this nasty side to him. Now, he's asking Harry, who's half his age (but sometimes twice the man), to accept the role of being a godfather to his child, like it would be the greatest honour of his life if he were to accept. Actually, I don't think him asking had very much to do with Teddy at all. It was about fixing their relationship, saying sorry, letting Harry see how proud he was of him and how much trust he had in him.
Mehhh. Yes? No? :>
no subject
Ah, but isn't that what we are meant to do when we read? ^__^
I felt sure it was something Remus had been thinking about for a long time... He just grabbed Harry and blurted it out like he was half afraid he wouldn't want to do it after all the horrid things they said before.
Heh, goes to show how differently one section can be read by two people. It was precisely that sudden grabbing and blurting that made me think Remus had not even thought of the subject at all before. And now that I think about it, Harry just happened to be there. How would Remus have known that Harry would be at Bill and Fleur's, unless they somehow notified him? Eh, but whatever, that wouldn't necessarily have mattered in terms of Remus' prior consideration of godparents, technically.
You've definitely made me ponder the tables-turning aspect to it. It IS a nice full circle to come in a lot of ways. Sometimes those we rely on need to rely on someone as well.
It was about fixing their relationship, saying sorry, letting Harry see how proud he was of him and how much trust he had in him.
Again, different readings. For me, that's not a good reason to denote a godparent. It felt like a desperate search to find something that would make Harry feel good about Remus again, like when you are in an uncommonly good mood and you offer to pay for lunch with friends, only to regret your abrupt decision later on. And I hope Remus doesn't regret it. Don't get me wrong, the trust thing is definitely a good reason for choosing a godparent. It's just the stuff behind it that bothered me. It felt like Remus was almost throwing the best he had to offer out on the table in his excitement.
But maybe I'm the one reading into things now. And of course, we are both going to read the book quite differently; we're two different people. I love being able to see other interpretations. It rounds the whole experience out for me. ♥