PoA 4 :: The political rant jar.
Apr. 30th, 2004 04:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pauraque_bkPoA 4: The Leaky Cauldron
I think it was![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
neotoma who had a theory on what warlocks are, exactly, though I can't recall it. They're named in the same clause with non-humans such as dwarfs and hags, so perhaps they're considered subhuman as well. Harry doesn't know it, but even now, people like Umbridge are working to stop this kind of inter-species mixing.
Non-human magic users, followed closely by a reference to moon charts -- in re-reading, we think immediately of Remus. This is the density of foreshadowing that makes me love this book.
Completely unprovoked. Though it doesn't give pause on first reading, it's very clear here that Crookshanks wants *Scabbers* -- not the "glossy rats" (49) right next to him on the counter.
The other rats stop what they're doing and come over for a better look at him -- they're curious, but not afraid. Peter has a special connection and ability to communicate with normal rats (GoF).
Ron keeps leaving Scabbers's medicine behind, and JKR keeps pointing it out. She doesn't want us to forget about Scabbers and his "wobegone" (49) physical state.
As discussed in Chapter 3, vehicles are controlled by the government, and only to be used in special cases. Here, Fudge is worried for Harry's safety.
Again, it's going into the Muggle world unprotected that's seen as dangerous. Fudge had no problem leaving Harry alone for two weeks as long as he stayed in Diagon Alley (42).
An idiomatic cliche, I think, not a reference to the real state of magical technology. I'm not even sure what a "self-spelling wand" would be.
Arthur is very reasonable in his argument for warning Harry that he's in danger; Molly presents Dumbledore's stated viewpoint (OotP) that Harry is young and shouldn't be burdened with unnecessary responsibility if the adults can keep it off his shoulders, because he's "happy not knowing" (53). Arthur is rational, Molly is emotional. This is very het-archetypal, as is the image of Harry (the child) sneaking around to listen to his parent-figures arguing over him. It's a commonplace image, except that Arthur and Molly are not really his parents.
*
Last night, I donated to the Kerry campaign. This is the first time I've given money to a political cause, and really, the first time I've even been tempted to. I've read a lot of people recently expressing dismay and fear at various actions and policies of the Bush administration, and if you're one of them, I urge you to take similar action. The Bush campaign is extremely wealthy, but giving Kerry a shot at the win is going to take financial help from his supporters.
Here's an idea: Every time you feel like getting on LJ and ranting about how angry you are, how afraid you are, how little the Bush administration shares your values -- set aside a certain sum of money or amount of time to contribute to a cause you *do* support. Like a swear jar, only it'd be a rant jar. It would do a lot more good, and probably make you feel better, too.
Harry ate breakfast each morning in the Leaky Cauldron, where he liked watching the other guests: funny little witches from the country, up for a day's shopping; venerable-looking wizards arguing over the latest article in Transfiguration Today; wild-looking warlocks, raucous dwarfs and, once, what looked suspiciously like a hag, who ordered a plate of raw liver from behind a thick woollen balaclava. (42)
I think it was
neotoma who had a theory on what warlocks are, exactly, though I can't recall it. They're named in the same clause with non-humans such as dwarfs and hags, so perhaps they're considered subhuman as well. Harry doesn't know it, but even now, people like Umbridge are working to stop this kind of inter-species mixing.'it's a lunascope, old boy -- no more messing around with moon charts, see?' (42)
Non-human magic users, followed closely by a reference to moon charts -- in re-reading, we think immediately of Remus. This is the density of foreshadowing that makes me love this book.
Ron buckled as something huge and orange came soaring from the top of the highest cage, landed on his head and then propelled itself, spitting madly, at Scabbers. (49)
Completely unprovoked. Though it doesn't give pause on first reading, it's very clear here that Crookshanks wants *Scabbers* -- not the "glossy rats" (49) right next to him on the counter.
The other rats stop what they're doing and come over for a better look at him -- they're curious, but not afraid. Peter has a special connection and ability to communicate with normal rats (GoF).
'That reminds me, you forgot your Rat Tonic,' said Hermione[...] (50)
The bottle of Rat Tonic was lying under the table they had sat at earlier. (54)
Ron keeps leaving Scabbers's medicine behind, and JKR keeps pointing it out. She doesn't want us to forget about Scabbers and his "wobegone" (49) physical state.
'The Ministry's providing a couple of cars,' said Mr Weasley.
Everyone looked up at him. (52)
As discussed in Chapter 3, vehicles are controlled by the government, and only to be used in special cases. Here, Fudge is worried for Harry's safety.
Again, it's going into the Muggle world unprotected that's seen as dangerous. Fudge had no problem leaving Harry alone for two weeks as long as he stayed in Diagon Alley (42).
[...]I don't care what Fudge keeps telling the Daily Prophet, we're no nearer catching Black than inventing self-spelling wands. (53)
An idiomatic cliche, I think, not a reference to the real state of magical technology. I'm not even sure what a "self-spelling wand" would be.
Arthur is very reasonable in his argument for warning Harry that he's in danger; Molly presents Dumbledore's stated viewpoint (OotP) that Harry is young and shouldn't be burdened with unnecessary responsibility if the adults can keep it off his shoulders, because he's "happy not knowing" (53). Arthur is rational, Molly is emotional. This is very het-archetypal, as is the image of Harry (the child) sneaking around to listen to his parent-figures arguing over him. It's a commonplace image, except that Arthur and Molly are not really his parents.
*
Last night, I donated to the Kerry campaign. This is the first time I've given money to a political cause, and really, the first time I've even been tempted to. I've read a lot of people recently expressing dismay and fear at various actions and policies of the Bush administration, and if you're one of them, I urge you to take similar action. The Bush campaign is extremely wealthy, but giving Kerry a shot at the win is going to take financial help from his supporters.
Here's an idea: Every time you feel like getting on LJ and ranting about how angry you are, how afraid you are, how little the Bush administration shares your values -- set aside a certain sum of money or amount of time to contribute to a cause you *do* support. Like a swear jar, only it'd be a rant jar. It would do a lot more good, and probably make you feel better, too.
