(no subject)

[hpraremod]

Discussion Question #4
Here is a tough one for you. If you could change one thing in the Harry Potter books, what would it be and why?

Comments

[wwmrsweasleydo.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry but speaking as a housewife I have to disagree with you. So much of the books is about parenting and maternal love in particular. Molly's daughter was threatened and -- no matter how frumpy and cuddly we may appear the rest of the time -- when a mother sees a child threatened she becomes a tiger. Her successful attack is the bookend to Lily's sacrifice. They both risked their life to try to save their child but with different results. It also mirrors Narcissa's actions to protect Draco which also put her at risk. Bellatrix is the evil female and it is fitting that she is defeated by the good female. For JKR in HP mother love is the greatest good. (She wrote while mourning the death of her own mother after all).

[gamma-x-orionis.livejournal.com]

I don't doubt how dangerous someone is capable of being when their child is threatened, but I would argue that there's a notable difference between that and being able to defeat someone who has considerably more battle training than yourself in a fight. Bellatrix was a trained fighter who was capable of overpowering other trained fighters at various points in the books (Sirius, the snatchers, presumably aurors during the first war), whereas Molly Weasley (we are to assume) didn't have any formal training. I think that in this situation, skill would win over raw passion.
That said, I am extremely biased, because Bellatrix is by far my favourite character in the series, and I probably would have found something to complain about with her death, no matter how it was done...

[wwmrsweasleydo.livejournal.com]

I'm very biased, too, as I identify strongly with Molly. I respect your viewpoint completely, but I'm sticking to mine. Molly was a member of the Order, so she would have had some training, although I agree that Bellatrix's power and skill are both very impressive. I think that, ultimately, Bellatrix would have under-estimated Molly and would have let her guard down enough.