The Book Club

Re: In defense of the epilogue

CParazzoli — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 23:37:10 GMT

Dear Brennan,

I agree that after deadly adventures, Harry and his friends would appreciate to live uneventful lives. But I do understand that a lot of readers (including myself) were a bit disappointed by the end. If Rowling took the trouble to go 19 years ahead on time and show Harry married and with children, she should have left us more information about him. I was curious about his profession, for instance. I thought that after leading the DA and everything, Harry would end at Hogwarts, the first place he felt home, as a teacher or even headmaster. I think that most people didn't expect that he would have a lot of adventures, but just to know a little more about him as an adult. Same thing with Ron and Hermione. Okay, they ended up together, but who are they 19 years later?

The question that the writer left unanswered is, in my opinion, one of the most important questions for followers of Harry's books: what kind of grown ups kids like Harry, Ron and Hermione turned to be? We understand that they turned to be "family people", but what else? We would like to know...

Facts of epilogue were fine, the writing seemed difficult.

kolmogorov — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 22:24:49 GMT

While I found the facts of the epilogue palatable, I didn't like the epilogue because I found the writing in the epilogue a bit difficult to read. It was too dense with names, for one thing. The tumble of familiar names, now referrring to different people than we're used to, was jarring and difficult for my sleep addled brain to parse. I think it would have read better if a little more time had been taken with it... start with Harry's family, say, follow them from somewhere *to* the platform so that we have time to slowly register each of the children's names. I'm not talking about fleshing out their characters, just giving my poor brain a chance to soak it all in.

It's a quibble, but I bring it up because I sort of think the quality of writing falters a little in the epilogue, and that muddies the issue of whether we don't like the epilogue because it isn't written as well as the rest of the book, or we don't like the epilogue because we don't like the idea of Harry married with kids.

------------- In either case, I don't mind at all that the story ends with Harry seeing his kids off to Hogwarts, and I found his comment about Snape and Slitherin quite moving. I think, in concept, ending the book with the next generation going to Hogwarts is a good idea, since the books really are about kids going to Hogwarts as much as they are about anything.

I think, if it were me, I might have skipped ahead a couple of generations and had some kids on the HW Express whispering about a kid whose grandfather was Harry Potter, letting you know that he did have a family and so on without filling you in on any of the details of who marries who. Nonetheless, I think the current ending works, as many people have said, because that's what Harry wanted, normalcy, not fame or power or greatness.

More on the epilogue.

bright_virago — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 13:41:56 GMT

JKR shares some additional information here.

Thoroughly agreed with and enjoyed your post - thanks!

Re: In defense of the epilogue

NHamilton — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 20:50:41 GMT

OK, maybe a quiet little life is what a lot of people end up with for themselves, but it is not what readers (at least, this reader) want for a beloved hero of a fantasy/adventure saga. I didn't want Harry to die, and I'm glad Rowling didn't kill him. I think that would have been just as disappointing. But there are a few problems with the epilogue, and a big one is that we don't get to see what they do for a living or where they live -- how great would it have been to see Grimmauld Place restored to some delightful homey glory, better than it was when the Black family lived there? I was totally expecting that, and we got nothing. And another problem, frankly, is Ginny. I'm surprised our book club people don't go into the fact that her character, for all the trauma it's been through, is really underdeveloped in the way it acts and speaks. I don't really get why Harry likes her so much, but I'd be OK with that, but I'm just really unconvinced that she is his one true love. (On the other hand, everyone has been more than convinced that Hermione and Ron were meant for each other, no?) Maybe a lot of the problem is that we're not really used to seeing heroes in this vein end up settling down in any way. I for one would have liked to see Harry take possession of the Deathly Hallows (Dumbledore himself did say Harry was the true master of death, so why then did his portrait tell Harry NOT to retrieve the ring? And just when I had gotten used to the thought of the holly/phoenix wand being gone for good, and the Elder Wand as a replacement, bam, Harry wants the old wand back? Ugh!) and retire to a philosophical life as headmaster of Hogwarts. Rowling gave us his instinctive trek up to the office at the end and everything! And while I don't think we needed Harry to die to justify all the darkness, I would not have minded some more intense physical pain (ala Voldemort gathering Harry's blood at the end of book 4 -- that was rough) for our hero, and maybe a more drawn-out death sequence for some of the dead characters. The only one that got that was Dobby; everyone else important dies offscreen (as it were), or, in Snape's case, sort of randomly before he is redeemed in our eyes, which really puts a damper on the level to which we can agonize over it as much as, presumably, the characters do.

Re: In defense of the epilogue

klarity — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 13:17:39 GMT

You have echoed my thoughts. I appreciate your ability to write them better than I! I believe JKRowling summed it up quite nicely. As to those who've complained about the lack of sex, Hermione's being given too little credit, etc. they need to recall the series was written for children. There are plenty of more "realistic" books around for those who desire them.

My sister and I are in our fifties,our mom in her late seventies and we anxiouslly awaited the last book's release. Rowling's Harry Potter series enabled me to recapture a bit of the purity and naivete of my childhood before the advent of my adult life's complications.I will miss Harry and his friends' adventures, but we must all of us grow up sometime.

Re: In defense of the epilogue

bsharporflat — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 11:44:01 GMT

Perhaps Slytherin's existence goes along with some thing like right to Free Speech. If racism is an ingrained and eternal part of humanity, it is better to give it open and acceptable outlets for expression with limits and controls, rather than trying to ban it, forcing it underground to fester and spread, obtaining the glamour of forbidden fruit. Best to keep our dark sides as much in the light as possible.

Re: In defense of the epilogue

ddamore — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 04:20:47 GMT

one thing that disappointed me in the epilogue was learning that Hogwarts was still divided into 4 houses. Even though it was an idea that Voldemort had, it seemed that a major theme of the books was to overcome petty divisions like houses, and unite for the common good. perhaps Rowling just wished to be realistic about racism's tenacity (as long as slytherin exists, it seems purebloodism is still a popular and public form of thought). but still, you would think that not only being in danger of dying out, but by being destroyed by at least 2 powerful dark wizards (no masterful dark witches though - bellatrix was obviously too touched in the head to be willfully dangerous rather than just insane), that the magical world would just be happy to be alive.

Re: In defense of the epilogue

westrox — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 02:08:59 GMT

A point I haven't seen made yet is the complete circle the epilogue makes in tone and sprirt. A light-hearted scene of the next generation leaving for Hogwarts reminds the reader of how far we have come with Harry since the first book and his/our first journey to Hogwarts. Thousands of pages later, we have been through many wars and battles, and the simplicity and contrast of the epilogue to its previous pages enforce our journey's distance.

Re: In defense of the epilogue

tikanique — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 22:29:01 GMT

I imagine she just dropped the ball on this particular point. We know that Harry ends up with Ginny but she took the time to mention that. And I don't see Goyle with a Muggle - we Muggles have better taste than that.

Re: In defense of the epilogue

optical allusion — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 20:12:13 GMT

I think she purposely kept Teddy as a brief mention in the epilogue because we never met him in the book. We know Harry has a good relationship with him, and that's enough, especially when so many wonderful characters weren't mentioned at all.

I mentioned this in another thread yesterday, but I love how she ended things. We know the main characters get to live long, happy peaceful lives, and aside from that, we have plenty of room to fill in the blanks ourselves.

I imagine... Luna becoming a Hogwarts teacher (she was wonderful helping Harry conjure his patronus). Lavender Brown became a warewolf, and now she works for werewolf rights. Goyle saw the light and married a Muggle. Dean still keeps in touch with Griphook, and sends Christmas cards to Mrs. Tonks every year. Him and Seamus taking their kids to the Quidditch World Cup together. And I especially love that she didn't mention Dudley, because now I can imagine Harry and Neville showing up at his front door, to give his son his Hogwarts admission letter. Then I can think about Vernon learning his precious granchild is like that horrible Potter boy!

But I just think it's wonderful that she told us Harry was happy, but gave us room to imagine the rest.

Re: In defense of the epilogue

tikanique — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 19:50:24 GMT

The epilogue failed for me only because there wasn't more mentioned about Teddy Lupin and his relationship with his godfather Harry. Both their parents were killed when they were infants, resisting Voldmort (directly for Harry and indirectly for Tonks and Lupin). I could care less about what happened to the Dursleys. I personally hope they got bashed in the head when Hagrids motorcycle fell from the sky.

Re: In defense of the epilogue

DownSouthLeftie — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 19:44:30 GMT

Speaking of the Dursleys... did any of y'all wonder what happened to them?

Re: In defense of the epilogue

bsharporflat — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 17:39:16 GMT

Luna, all in all I think that is pretty good speculation!

Re: In defense of the epilogue

konark_girl — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 17:27:55 GMT

(I posted this on another thread too).

Two things about the epilogue that struck me:

Point A: This was a multiplied-by-30 version of Sam's return to his home after Frodo sails off. What Tolkien fitted in 2 sentencdes, JKR uses 3 pages for....but the gist is the same, at the end evil must be fought so people can go back to the luxury of leading 'ordinary' lives with small ordinary concerns.

Point B: The middle name of Harry's second son. I got teary-eyed afresh in that sentence......

Re: In defense of the epilogue

ladykrystyna — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 17:03:58 GMT

It's nice to see that others are thinking the same thing - at first I was disappointed, but I try to remember the themes that JKR tries to follow. And the epilogue was one of them - Harry never wanted "eternal glory"; he never wanted to the Boy Who Lived. So whatever he is doing, it is quiet and simple and we don't have to assume that Hermione and Ginny are just popping kids out. What we see is a return to normalcy and maybe that's meant for us to realize that there aren't any more stories to tell about Harry Potter. It is "Harry Potter and the Boring Garden Party" (that was very clever by the way!).

Think about many of our heroes and heroines - wouldn't it be boring to see what they were doing after they rode of into the sunset. What if Rose had married Jack (Titanic)? A little less romantic isn't it? Not to say that being married isn't romantic. I'm married and I wouldn't say that, but you have to admit your life is full of the little mundane things and the romance that comes from time to time is a plus.

Some people might say, No, I want to know, but then we'd be stuck with hundreds of books about Harry Potter and the Whatever, like we're stuck with hundreds of Star Wars novels that have completely diluted the story. The Star Wars saga is over, the rest of the books are interesting enough to get you back into the universe but how many times is the Galatic Republic going to be threatened? Maybe we want boring and happy.