this post was submitted on 22 Feb 2025
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Love her or hate her (and my opinions are mixed), I must confess, JK Rowling was a huge influence on why I didn't become a regular author. No shade on people who get what they paid for, but the young reader crowd is just so gimmicky, and not in a good way, and you see that with a lot of works like Percy Jackson and Twilight (but also predominantly with Rowling's work). How do you compete in such a no-rules game?

So then let's talk about one of the cores of the issue. People often have an epiphany when divulging into Harry Potter, and they think "huh, what's the deal with this if that thing is how it is". While noting that conflicts in literary analysis don't always reflect something that doesn't add up and that it could be a hiccup in details/semantics, the questions themselves don't go away. And there's nothing that matches the amount of those having to do with Harry Potter. What example of which strikes you as the most overlooked?

If Rowling herself ever notices that I'm bringing this up, let it be known I do think of her work as a reskinned Brothers Grimm in the universe of The Worst Witch and that I'm collaborating with another author (Samantha Rinne) whose work I would argue deserves Rowling's prestige if Rowling's work deserves it. Thanks (and here is where I run for the hills).

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[–] GraniteM@lemmy.world 62 points 1 day ago (5 children)

There's no fucking way that a kid raised from infancy like Harry was, in a abusive hateful household that treated him like dirt, would have enough strength of character to pull shit like the "Give it here, Malfoy" scene after having been out of the Dursley household for less than a couple weeks. Think about how the Dursleys would have reacted every time young Harry tried to stand up for himself. It would have been nonstop physical and mental abuse, all aimed at making him more subservient. It would take a miracle for a kid like that to be even vaguely functional as a person, and he certainly wouldn't have the ability to stand up for himself, let alone others.

[–] Shardikprime@lemmy.world 10 points 19 hours ago

Wizards are just built different. In Harry's case, he comes from a line of wizards that basically stood up to the metaphorical concept of death itself

Shits wack yo

[–] afronaut@lemmy.cafe 19 points 23 hours ago

You’re not entirely wrong but I was a complete misfit and the black sheep of my family. I resisted their attempts to conform and homogenize me.

I think I took a lot of inspiration from the stories I had access to from books, tv, film, and video games.

Harry could read so I wonder if he also had access to books with inspiration characters. Also, what was his school life like?

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 8 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

I think having literal magic powers is the key difference. Though I do think he would just end up becoming the bully more realistically.

[–] throwback3090@lemmy.nz 4 points 10 hours ago

I mean... He does. Hes a huge bully.

[–] LovableSidekick@lemmy.world 13 points 1 day ago

Harry's character is larger-than-life strong, but that's fictional heroes for you.

[–] Bazoogle@lemmy.world 12 points 1 day ago (1 children)

This one can actually be known, since you're just talking about human nature. I do think it's possible to come out of the situation strong willed. He'd need other strong parental figures, such as teachers. It would also require a great amount of resilience, and would no doubt leave with a fair share of mental health issues. But you could totally be emboldened even after a traumatic upbringing like that.

[–] LovableSidekick@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Yeah it's actually a weak criticism. Such strength of character is rare but there are still many examples in real life. Oprah Winfrey and Drew Barrymore come to my mind right away.

[–] Jakeroxs@sh.itjust.works 1 points 9 hours ago

Bad news about Oprah lol

[–] throwback3090@lemmy.nz 1 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

Oprah's strength of character gave us dr oz and dr Phil. She's a con artist not a hero.

[–] LovableSidekick@lemmy.world 1 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

Props for succeeding in life in spite of childhood abuse tho. Or don't disapproved people even get that?

[–] throwback3090@lemmy.nz 1 points 1 hour ago

If success is fucking over millions of people....sure