pauraque_bk | PoA 2 :: Plugs 'n' recs

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PoA 2 :: Plugs 'n' recs

PoA 2: Aunt Marge's Big Mistake

Dudley had spent most of the summer in the kitchen, his piggy little eyes fixed on the screen and his five chins wobbling as he ate continuously. (18)

Others have remarked on the grotesque Roald-Dahl qualities of the Dursleys, certainly evident in this chapter. Interesting that it's Muggle "reality" that's portrayed as exaggerated fantasy, while the descriptions of things that go on in the magical world tend to be more restrained. The WW is more "normal" to Harry.

'No need to tell us he's no good,' snorted Uncle Vernon, staring over the top of his newspaper at the prisoner. 'Look at the state of him, the filthy layabout! Look at his hair!' (18)

I cracked up here. Also, clever allusion to Harry's judgmental attitude towards Snape's appearance. One of a number of parallels in the descriptions of Sirius and Snape, which we'll see later on.

'Exactly,' said Harry, looking calmly up into Uncle Vernon's large, purple face. 'It's a lot to remember. I'll have to make it sound convincing, won't I? What if I accidentally let something slip?' (21)

Ah, Harry's a manipulative little thing. I wonder if he seriously thinks Vernon would have signed his permission form? I guess he does, but it doesn't seem likely to me.

'You mustn't blame yourself for the way the boy's turned out, Vernon [...] You see it all the time with dogs. If there's something wrong with the bitch, there'll be something wrong with the pup--' (24)

Whoa! This is right up there with OotP's "enough effing owls" for shock value. I doubt they'll be able to get it into the movie, which is unfortunate, since it's Marge's best/worst line.

The main thing that strikes me about this chapter is how *awful* Aunt Marge really is. When JKR tries to get me to hate a character, it frequently doesn't work (Snape, Peter, Bellatrix... Voldemort, I guess), but occasionally she gets it really right, as with Umbridge, and as with Aunt Marge. Her obnoxiousness is consistent and excellently done, and definitely makes Harry's outburst understandable.

JKR is pretty good at doing all types of obnoxious-yet-prosaic behavior, actually, even when we end up sympathizing with the character. Draco's snottiness, Snape's relentless grudge-holding, Lupin's passive aggression... All ring very true to me. She has a good ear for it.

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Plugs:

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genfic_hogwarts is going along swimmingly so far, which makes me happy. This might be of particular interest, by the way, to those friends of mine who may enjoy the occasional fic, but aren't really in fandom and don't have fandomish tastes.

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idlerat is attempting to organize a fandom fundraiser for MoveOn.org. This is interesting, as I've never seen an overtly political fundraiser in a fandom before. Fundraisers for disease research and charity, yes. For an election? This could be a first.

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Recs:

You know when you read a fic with a premise you've read a hundred times before, and you suddenly realize that *this* is it, *this* is the definitive take on Krycek-in-the-silo, or Dark Lord Harry, or whatever it is?

"Blank" (PG-13) by

switchknife is just such a fic. Has Sirius-in-Azkaban ever been done with such raw lyrical grace?

...he turns his head to see dark hair, whipped and tangled, a flash of teeth, joy-feral, eyes bright and hazel behind the glint of glass...

Also, the astounding

nicolthewhore has written me a slick, nasty, visceral Peter ficlet called "Chilling" (NC-17, disturbing). I asked for Peter/any Marauder, and I certainly got that... and oh so much more. To say anything else would spoil it.

A dry rustling, like cloth dragging across the floor, and Peter sits up, wide-eyed, straining to hear which direction the noise came from. Something cold slithers across his shoulder, trails down his back, flits across his thigh. Peter jerks from the sudden touch, whips his head back.

"W-who..."

Why are you still here? Go read!

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The main thing that strikes me about this chapter is how *awful* Aunt Marge really is.

It also explains a lot about why the Dursley household is as dreadful as it is. Marge is Vernon's sister, and that poisonous virulousness towards anything that doesn't form part of their own little world would seem to be a family trait. Which, when they're together, reinforces itself as they gang up on their target.

Petunia, on the other hand, as we're beginning to discover more and more as the books go on - and particularly in OotP - isn't quite as vicious and condemnatory, even if she generally supports their viewpoint. She's Lily's sister, after all, and while we don't yet know what mix of fear of the unknown/different, jealousy, repugnance, rejection and social climbing have prompted her to so wholly deny her sister and her sister's family for what they are, we do know that she has occasional moments of weakness that Vernon does not. He leads; she takes her cues from him.*

I'm reasonably sure that she married Vernon because he was so vehemently against everything in her life that made her feel uncomfortable and/or that she wanted to turn her back on, that she felt he was the safe option. I can't see even Vernon at 20 being particularly loveable!

* Does she follow his lead a little too much? She doesn't seem to have much of a life of her own, beyond Vernon's wife, Dudley's mother. I still wonder whether one of the big reveals of book seven will be that the Evanses were a family of squibs living incognito in the Muggle world, and that Lily's big crime against Petunia was to break out of that.

(Also: I spent all of yesterday evening scanning PoA so that I can convert it to ebook format to read on the train over the next month. This is clearly All. Your. Fault. *g*)

Actually, my impression was that Vernon doesn't feel especially close to Marge either... it seems that everyone merely tolerates her, the same as Harry (he notes specifically that Dudley doesn't like her). Of course, Vernon is nervous because he doesn't want Marge finding out about Harry, but if it's such a stressful thing, why invite her? Why not give Harry to a sitter? I don't have the book on me, but it struck me like Marge invited herself. As blusterous as Vernon is, Marge seems to steamroller right over him. I suspect she's the older sibling, and Vernon a case of the bullied kid becoming a bully himself.

Petunia's main interest is spying on and judging her neighbors; she doesn't seem to feel strongly about anything going on at her own house. Interesting that Harry doesn't think to ask Petunia to sign his form, when she seems so much less hostile than Vernon. Petunia has no power in her family, a fact Harry's picked up on.

Actually, my impression was that Vernon doesn't feel especially close to Marge either

Yes. You're right that he's very nervous that she might find out about all the little secrets in his household. And since she's known all along that he has his wife's sister's tedious brat taking up good house-room, that makes you pause to think... what's changed and when? What clearly has to be Harry going to Hogwarts, the embarrassing confirmation of his wizarding ancestry. When was two years ago. Clearly a close and loving family, if Marge hasn't come to stay for at least that long. ;-)

And I think you might well be on the mark with that bullied kid becoming a bully theory.

The more I think about it, the more it becomes obvious that Vernon is indeed very bullied by Marge. When Harry suggests that he might let something slip to Marge, Vernon's reaction isn't just anger, but "panic". Admittedly, he stresses about being perceived as normal in general, but being "outed" to his sister is panic-inducing.

Mm... I feel the potential for Dursleyfic. *g*

You're right that he's very nervous that she might find out about all the little secrets in his household

You know, people tend to fear their own flaws in others - perhaps the Dursley's paranoia about being found out is related to the fact that all Petunia does is try to spy out the secrets of her neighbors? They assume that everyone else is like they are, and I'm sure they would be unsympathetically mortified at another family like theirs with a wizard kid, which is why they worry about it.

Interesting that it's Muggle "reality" that's portrayed as exaggerated fantasy,

Oooh, interesting point. The other time when I've really noticed this exaggerating style is in the descriptions of Hagrid. I'm not exactly sure how big that guy is, what will all the 'eyes as large as saucers' kind of stuff that goes on, that doesn't sound accurate, but, then you think, he *is* half-giant. *shrug*

As for Aunt Marge, pretty much usually forget that she exists. As for the rest...well, on my initial reading I loathed Draco, and disliked Voldie, and even Snape on occasion. Now, however, I find it less easy to create the hate against these characters, because fandom has skewed the way I receive them. (Even Umbridge - she's horrible, but she's such a great villian that I admire the character.) It's because fanfiction is all about other perspectives, how a story shifts when you take some other character's side, makes you wonder about *their* stories, why they are the way they are, what the reinterpretations of the character can be, even if they are evil and/or pathetic. And literary potential makes everybody beautiful. :)

The other time when I've really noticed this exaggerating style is in the descriptions of Hagrid.

Yes, that's the kind of Dahlesque hyperbole I'm thinking of. The descriptions of Hagrid have become less fantastical as the books have gone on, I think.

It's because fanfiction is all about other perspectives, how a story shifts when you take some other character's side, makes you wonder about *their* stories, why they are the way they are

Good point. It's interesting when that "kicks in" for a given fan reader and when it doesn't. I was empathetically engaged with Harry's hatred of Marge and Umbridge (ie, I felt hatred for them too) whereas I've never gotten that with, say, Snape -- my interest in his story was always greater than my empathy with Harry. Relatively few fans seem to share Harry's hatred of Snape, but quite a lot of them are emotionally revolted by Peter. Hm.

I wonder if the "readers hate Snape but not Wormtail" thing is because Peter is viewed as "cringing", as "a spineless wimp" (not quoting anyone directly, just impressions), while Snape has this grand Miltonian anger that makes some readers more sympathetic to him even when he's more unpleasant overall than Peter is.

Eo, you're slowly turning me into a Peter convert. He must indeed have a hell of a lot to him to be able to pull off the events of Halloween night. And NO ONE saw it coming.

You mean "readers hate Wormtail but not Snape", I think.

grand Miltonian anger

That's what Snape would like us to think! Snape is very good at appearing indignant and put-upon (moreso in the movie, but it's present in the books as well), and that racks him up some sympathy. In short, Snape tells us he doesn't deserve the way he's treated, and we believe him.

Peter, meanwhile, has no sense that he deserves respect -- he tells us he's worthless, and we believe him. As you say, it's only once we examine what he's actually *done* that we see past the way he presents himself.

Smape's also got his "If I can't make you care for me, I'll at least make you *notice* me!" attitude. He's pretty hard to ignore, if nothing else.

Peter, on the other hand, doesn't want to be noticed, and is quite good at finding bolt holes. Peter is quite happy to be overlooked.

Actually, I think the most opaque character in the books is Lupin, who says many things, but who acts in quite different ways -- and yet very few readers pick up on how duplicitous *he* can be.

A lot of it, I think, also, comes from the narrative bias. A lot is set up to make us loathe Peter. He never gets even the tiny bits of credit that Snape does - he's a tagalong, he's ugly, he cries a lot, he's constantly pathetic, he transforms into an animal with traditionally negative connotations; he fits in with all these stereotypes. When Sirius is festering in Azkaban, why doesn't he hate Voldemort? He's the one who actually killed Lily and James! The books seem to me to be written from a (not unexpected) mindset in which being a traitor is the *worst* thing, worse than actually being evil for its own sake. (Loyalty calls the Phoenix! Loyalty!) Although I also think this: Peter, meanwhile, has no sense that he deserves respect -- he tells us he's worthless, and we believe him. is a really insightful point.

twistedflame actually said something the other day that at first glance seems silly but then makes you wonder. What would our perception of Peter be like if he was pretty? Would he have more fans? Snape has been prettified in various ways by fandom, true, but, even if you look at the way their ugliness is reinterpreted in the movie...Snape isn't gorgeous but he has presence, Peter is ugly in the same way the Dursleys are ugly. If he were a debonair!pretty!traitor would we be more inclined to see his pathetic behavior as a clever ploy?

The books seem to me to be written from a (not unexpected) mindset in which being a traitor is the *worst* thing, worse than actually being evil for its own sake. (Loyalty calls the Phoenix! Loyalty!)

This is a very good point! Snape is also a traitor, of course, but to the Dark side, so I guess that makes it okay.

If he were a debonair!pretty!traitor would we be more inclined to see his pathetic behavior as a clever ploy?

"Peter with presence" is basically... Lucius! Lucius is also two-faced, grovels to Voldemort after not having the balls to stand up and defend him when he "wasn't the biggest bully in the playground anymore", as Sirius might put it. He's at least as morally weak as Peter, and less loyal: Peter's loyalties can be swayed, but Lucius appears to have none at all.

What has Lucius ever done to deserve his fan following? Harry's relationship with him is not complex, as with Snape. JKR doesn't want us to like or sympathize with him -- he's a slimy villain, and that's about it.

But he's pretty! And he has presence!

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Lucius fans shouldn't like him -- I'm just saying it's pretty clear that what a character actually does and believes is not the main cause for said character becoming popular.

I just wanted to let you know I'm very much enjoying your reread of PoA. Are you planning a chapter a day or a chapter when you get to it?

I'll probably do close to a chapter a day, but not worry about skipping a day if I don't have time. I want to be done with time to spare before the movie comes out... there's 20 more chapters, 37 days until the movie, so I should be good. I'm glad you're liking my posts.

Interesting that it's Muggle "reality" that's portrayed as exaggerated fantasy
interesting to me though that what I think really hooked me to these books initially is that my own upbringing has led me to feel much more at ease with the WW than with the Muggles - but that could be a long story - things unnatural seem quite natural to me. I'm pretty much a LUna character.
clever allusion to Harry's judgmental attitude towards Snape's appearance
This is a pattern as the books progress. There is a lot of hinting towards not judging on appearances. In particular, how many times have Harry and co. been misled by Snape's actions/appearances to be proved worng? By OoTP Harry is almost (at times) feeling sorry for Snape (eg. worst memory chapter) and I feel there may be some major turning around between these two in the last two books.

PoA is quite a turning point for Snape. The Shrieking Shack is the first time Harry sees him really lose control, and I think that's stuck with him... It elicits fear and pity (Harry says he's "pathetic", which is very much a new way of seeing him), and discomfort in that Harry doesn't want to see Snape as a human being with feelings. It's so much easier when he's the restrained, sarcastic, hated authority figure -- these elements of danger and lack of control are not what Harry wants from him.

Last one, I swear. You just have some amazing insights into this book, and it's my favorite, so I can't help but jump in. :)

Interesting that it's Muggle "reality" that's portrayed as exaggerated fantasy, while the descriptions of things that go on in the magical world tend to be more restrained.

I was talking to a friend of mine a while ago who has read the books but is non-fannish, and when I was telling him about the fandom and its fanfic in particular, I mentioned that there was a tendency in fic to address the abuse issues with Harry and the Dursleys in a way that was hardly even touched in canon. I told him that, personally, I have issues with the fact that we see little if any of the effect of their treatment of Harry once Harry is able to leave them. When he answered I realized I'd been looking at it much less from a literary vantage point than one of realism, when I should have been doing the former. What he said about it was, essentially, what you've said here, that it is because Harry has never identified with the Muggle world. There is less realism there than in the WW for him, so it stands that it is able to affect him less.

You or someone who commented mentioned how OotP shows this all turning on its head; Harry wants to go back to his "reality," but it turns out being worse than the limbo he lives in at the Dursleys. A desegregation b/w the WW and the Muggle world was also brought up. I haven't been able to reread OotP since it was released; I'd be interested in going back and seeing exactly how the Dursleys are portrayed (though I do seem to recall Dudley seeming much more like a real bully than a caricature of a bully). But I do remember that there seems to be a breakdown in the separation between the two worlds. Actually, throughout all the books, magic in the Muggele world has steadily more frightening and potentially permanent effects (all on the Dursleys, you'll notice): PS/SS, the Dursleys' home is invaded by letters and owls, Dudley gets trapped in the empty snake tank; CoS, Dobby ruins Vernon's business deal (and is it book canon that Vernon falls out of the window?); PoA, Marge is blown up; GoF, Dudley almost chokes to death on a Ton-Tongue Toffee; and the grand finale, OotP, in which Dudley is nearly Kissed by a dementor. In OotP, there's also the appearance of Arabella Figg, a woman whom Harry believed to be firmly entrenched in the Muggle world who turns out to have ties to both. So I think your observation is of particular notice and importance.

Good points here, particularly:

When he answered I realized I'd been looking at it much less from a literary vantage point than one of realism, when I should have been doing the former.

and

A desegregation b/w the WW and the Muggle world was also brought up. I haven't been able to reread OotP since it was released; I'd be interested in going back and seeing exactly how the Dursleys are portrayed (though I do seem to recall Dudley seeming much more like a real bully than a caricature of a bully). But I do remember that there seems to be a breakdown in the separation between the two worlds.

The Dursleys did seem more nuanced in OotP. And don't forget the revelation of the connection between Petunia and Dumbledore. Harry's worlds are colliding.

Told you I'd be here! But don't worry - I will include no movie spoilers at all!

Ahem.

Also, clever allusion to Harry's judgmental attitude towards Snape's appearance.

I never, ever thought of that. That's quite clever actually!

I think Harry genuinely thinks Uncle Vernon might sign that permission form. My view is that this wierd sort of trusting is one of his final parts of real childhood. Some part of him must know that he has no chance of actually getting that signiture but I think he's desperate and still clings to a childish dream of living with people who care about him.

When JKR tries to get me to hate a character, it frequently doesn't work (Snape, Peter, Bellatrix... Voldemort, I guess)

Do you think JKR wants us to hate Snape? I've never got that impression. I think we're meant to dislike his actions certainly and for good reason - at his worst, he's an extremely unpleasent bully and he's occasionally just petty. But I don't think we're meant to hate him. Everything we've learned about Snape makes me pity him rather than hate him. I've never felt that any character is really there for hate. Their actions are loathsome but the books seem to be preaching tolerence and lack of hate to me. An action is hateful, a person deserves more consideration. But perhaps that's just me.

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PoA 2 :: Plugs 'n' recs

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