Actually, this is one of the ideas that I've had in my head all through this series: yes, the HP books feature the kids breaking the rules (and, apparently, being "right" in doing so)...but they are only one example of a very long tradition in children's literature, especially in the mystery and fantasy genres--at least, so it seems to me.
Having made that claim, I'm hard pressed to think of any clear examples (James and the Giant Peach isn't quite the best one, since James himself isn't all that bad), but it seems to me that, growing up, I often found myself reading stories that featured children hiding things from grown-ups, sneaking out at night, etc.; and this behavior was often presented as perfectly justified, because the children knew Important Things that the adults didn't know, or refused to believe, or because that was the only way they could provide help to a character in need, or catch the villain (as opposed to, say, calling the police), or whatever. (EDIT: Mind you, sometimes the rule-breaking is for selfish reasons, or too serious to ignore, in which case they occasionally get their comeuppance.)
In fact, when I first read the HP books (starting with PS/SS), what struck me was how neatly they fit into this tradition, and I remember being a little disappointed that Rowling had followed the stereotype so closely, rather than doing something different. The pattern of the kids breaking the rules "for a good cause," however, came as no surprise.
In the succeeding books, of course, the rule-breaking does become more serious (as witness the current discussion(s)), and probably more troubling.
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Date: 2004-11-05 08:58 pm (UTC)Having made that claim, I'm hard pressed to think of any clear examples (James and the Giant Peach isn't quite the best one, since James himself isn't all that bad), but it seems to me that, growing up, I often found myself reading stories that featured children hiding things from grown-ups, sneaking out at night, etc.; and this behavior was often presented as perfectly justified, because the children knew Important Things that the adults didn't know, or refused to believe, or because that was the only way they could provide help to a character in need, or catch the villain (as opposed to, say, calling the police), or whatever.
(EDIT: Mind you, sometimes the rule-breaking is for selfish reasons, or too serious to ignore, in which case they occasionally get their comeuppance.)
In fact, when I first read the HP books (starting with PS/SS), what struck me was how neatly they fit into this tradition, and I remember being a little disappointed that Rowling had followed the stereotype so closely, rather than doing something different. The pattern of the kids breaking the rules "for a good cause," however, came as no surprise.
In the succeeding books, of course, the rule-breaking does become more serious (as witness the current discussion(s)), and probably more troubling.
p@,
Glenn