Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Review (part two)
Second part of review: The Weasleys & Friends
Fred and George Weasley
Gred and Forge. Oh, how lovely pair they were. You know, I once joked that, if one of the Weasleys had to go, it better be one of the twins, because there were two of them, anyway. How close I was to the truth, and how bitter it feels to see it happening, although not as much as it would have been to see Ron going, as I already said. It’s saddening and strange, to imagine one without the other. They always praised their similarity and fed off each other, as opposed to many twins that try to differentiate and prove that they’re their own person and not the half of a greater entity. The Weasley twins were best friends and accomplices, one in mind and act, complement to each other. Personally, it disgusts me a little that some people try to draw some sexual connection between them, because it vilifies their greatest bond, one that transcends the fraternal one: complete and unrelenting friendship. And that without considering their being brothers, which by itself makes it retrograde and anti-evolutionary to imagine a physical intimacy like the kind lovers have. But that’s just me.
Anyway, on with it. The entity that they were was brought down hard when one of them died, and in my humble opinion, that ought to be the most heart-breaking of losses in this book, because the main mourner remains alive and the loss cannot be replaced by anyone else in the world, as opposed as, for example, Harry dying and Ginny staying alive: she might find love again. But George will not be able to find a replacement for his twin brother anywhere, ever, or find consolation in a lover, or the rest of his family, even though he will surely be grateful that most of them remained. I think the bond he shared with Fred was something unique, beyond any bonds we’ve been shown in the books - except perhaps Harry and Voldemort’s bond, albeit in a completely different aspect and situation - and George must definitely suffer a deep inner change and overcome that painful transformation in order to emerge back to something resembling normal.
Wow, look at me, speaking of the characters as if they really existed.
Parents Weasley
Molly Weasley was her usual self until she killed Bellatrix. I never thought she’d do that, but like someone already said, it was war, and Voldemort was kind of the Minister for Magic, and the Unforgivables were no longer such, so she should not be punished. But death, and specifically, killing, has been treated and expanded for so long in the books as a ‘soul-splitting act’ that it is almost implausible that one of the most loving and caring characters would end up doing it. But seeing as it was either Bella or Ginny, what mother would not defend her children to death? Literally. Still, it leaves a bitter aftertaste that Molly did kill Bellatrix, instead of binding her or harming her into submission, or many other things she seemed capable to do, considering it looked like she was a worthy opponent of Voldemort’s first lieutenant.
Regarding father Weasley, he got angry beyond recognition once, against Kingsley Shacklebolt, but nothing more. He was surely fighting silently against the evil regime, so he doesn’t merit that much attention.
Bill and Fleur (plus Xenophilius and Muriel and featuring Viktor Krum)
The wedding scene was really nice. The decorations, the guests, the protagonists in dress robes, Auntie Muriel’s tiara, gleaming-Fleur, etc., they made for a comforting and relaxing moment, even though I couldn’t shake the feeling that, sooner or later, a couple or ten Death Eaters would gatecrash the party, as it undoubtedly happened. Aunt Muriel and her poisonous gossip had to happen, if we were to get some facts about Dumbledore, and Luna’s father, Xenophilius - ‘lover of foreigners’? - was a really interesting view, complete with Krum’s outrage at his wearing what was later identified as the Deathly Hallows’ symbol. I thought something similar when I read that part: that the symbol meant something else before Grindewald adopted it as his insignia, and Viktor had not been acquainted with the original meaning. It seemed… foreign, that Luna’s father would have been a supporter of those dark times for Wizards, considering he owned the Quibbler, and supported Harry through and through. There had to be another explanation.
But back to the newlyweds. I liked Fleur from the Triwizard Tournament, I thought she was really interesting. But there really wasn’t any insight into her real self, aside from her turning into Harry and hating it, and the fact that her parents were really nice people. It seems her mother had a good heart, and that Fleur was following on her steps of marrying a man for something more important than looks, which is a good quality, in the end. Other than that, she seemed to be a bit like Mrs Weasley, as witnessed in some scenes at their house, and if we are to think Bill is similar to Mr Weasley, here lies the Freudian reason why the two of them fell in love: Fleur is like Molly - leading, active -, and Bill is like Fleur’s father - following and passive -, whose name is never mentioned.
Percy Weasley
Finally we get a glimpse of him. To be honest, if a Weasley had to die, I would have preferred it to be Percy. Maybe because he hasn’t played much of an important part in the books, but he would have been redeemed of his traitorously sycophantic behaviour if he had died saving someone who had been important, or something of that sort. However, maybe he’ll now take the guilt from Fred’s death and get a chance to pay his long-due debt of loyalty - and here I am again, speaking as if there were more books to follow…
Ginny Weasley (plus Neville and Luna)
What exactly was Ginny planning to give Harry as a birthday present? I would think it was just a kiss, but then Ron ‘interrupted’ them, and it made it look as if she meant something more, which would have been ridiculous to attempt, considering the house was full to the brim of people.
Anyway, I have to say that she looked a bit ridiculous in her jealousy of Gabrielle Delacour and Cho, in their respective scenes. She had no logical reason to be so, because she and Harry had broken up, so he was free to see any girl he’d like, not that he’d actually do that. But she gets all worked up when Cho offers to accompany him to the Ravenclaw common room, which looked a bit too possessive to me. That being said, she was a nice ringleader to the Silver Trio - Ginny, Luna and Neville -, as people have started to call them. It can’t have been otherwise, seeing as how strong her temper has always been, even though Neville has a lot of merit on his own, but as he’s just starting to discover his amazing abilities, Ginny has had a good grasp on hers for a while longer. Speaking of Neville, the transformation he suffered is close to unbelievable. From his timid, insecure self, he suddenly shows up as this grunged-up version of himself, long haired and determined to push the resistance up front to the very end of their efforts. He even gains a following at the end, and no doubt about it, he’s won it. His moment of glory, and something absolutely fabulous that I’m glad Jo thought of putting there, was his slaying of Nagini’s head. It was simply and heroically fantastic to see him doing it.
And as I’m speaking about such a valuable team, I cannot help but to mention Luna. She was amazing, as she always is, and very brave in the face of great danger and pain. In Ollivander’s own words, ‘you were an inexpressible comfort to me in that terrible place.’ That’s her charm: knowing exactly what it takes to help someone. As in OotP, where she suggests they use Thestrals to fly to the Ministry, she’s always resourceful and refreshingly charming, with her always-unconventional take in everyday reality, which she clearly inherited from her father.
But back on Ginny, she behaved the only way she knew: fiery and rebellious. Fiercely brave and talented, and even though her temper spilled down and made her slip awkwardly at times, she remains a valuable element in the series.
Next: Horcruxes, Malfoys, Death Eaters and Voldemort.
Fred and George Weasley
Gred and Forge. Oh, how lovely pair they were. You know, I once joked that, if one of the Weasleys had to go, it better be one of the twins, because there were two of them, anyway. How close I was to the truth, and how bitter it feels to see it happening, although not as much as it would have been to see Ron going, as I already said. It’s saddening and strange, to imagine one without the other. They always praised their similarity and fed off each other, as opposed to many twins that try to differentiate and prove that they’re their own person and not the half of a greater entity. The Weasley twins were best friends and accomplices, one in mind and act, complement to each other. Personally, it disgusts me a little that some people try to draw some sexual connection between them, because it vilifies their greatest bond, one that transcends the fraternal one: complete and unrelenting friendship. And that without considering their being brothers, which by itself makes it retrograde and anti-evolutionary to imagine a physical intimacy like the kind lovers have. But that’s just me.
Anyway, on with it. The entity that they were was brought down hard when one of them died, and in my humble opinion, that ought to be the most heart-breaking of losses in this book, because the main mourner remains alive and the loss cannot be replaced by anyone else in the world, as opposed as, for example, Harry dying and Ginny staying alive: she might find love again. But George will not be able to find a replacement for his twin brother anywhere, ever, or find consolation in a lover, or the rest of his family, even though he will surely be grateful that most of them remained. I think the bond he shared with Fred was something unique, beyond any bonds we’ve been shown in the books - except perhaps Harry and Voldemort’s bond, albeit in a completely different aspect and situation - and George must definitely suffer a deep inner change and overcome that painful transformation in order to emerge back to something resembling normal.
Wow, look at me, speaking of the characters as if they really existed.
Parents Weasley
Molly Weasley was her usual self until she killed Bellatrix. I never thought she’d do that, but like someone already said, it was war, and Voldemort was kind of the Minister for Magic, and the Unforgivables were no longer such, so she should not be punished. But death, and specifically, killing, has been treated and expanded for so long in the books as a ‘soul-splitting act’ that it is almost implausible that one of the most loving and caring characters would end up doing it. But seeing as it was either Bella or Ginny, what mother would not defend her children to death? Literally. Still, it leaves a bitter aftertaste that Molly did kill Bellatrix, instead of binding her or harming her into submission, or many other things she seemed capable to do, considering it looked like she was a worthy opponent of Voldemort’s first lieutenant.
Regarding father Weasley, he got angry beyond recognition once, against Kingsley Shacklebolt, but nothing more. He was surely fighting silently against the evil regime, so he doesn’t merit that much attention.
Bill and Fleur (plus Xenophilius and Muriel and featuring Viktor Krum)
The wedding scene was really nice. The decorations, the guests, the protagonists in dress robes, Auntie Muriel’s tiara, gleaming-Fleur, etc., they made for a comforting and relaxing moment, even though I couldn’t shake the feeling that, sooner or later, a couple or ten Death Eaters would gatecrash the party, as it undoubtedly happened. Aunt Muriel and her poisonous gossip had to happen, if we were to get some facts about Dumbledore, and Luna’s father, Xenophilius - ‘lover of foreigners’? - was a really interesting view, complete with Krum’s outrage at his wearing what was later identified as the Deathly Hallows’ symbol. I thought something similar when I read that part: that the symbol meant something else before Grindewald adopted it as his insignia, and Viktor had not been acquainted with the original meaning. It seemed… foreign, that Luna’s father would have been a supporter of those dark times for Wizards, considering he owned the Quibbler, and supported Harry through and through. There had to be another explanation.
But back to the newlyweds. I liked Fleur from the Triwizard Tournament, I thought she was really interesting. But there really wasn’t any insight into her real self, aside from her turning into Harry and hating it, and the fact that her parents were really nice people. It seems her mother had a good heart, and that Fleur was following on her steps of marrying a man for something more important than looks, which is a good quality, in the end. Other than that, she seemed to be a bit like Mrs Weasley, as witnessed in some scenes at their house, and if we are to think Bill is similar to Mr Weasley, here lies the Freudian reason why the two of them fell in love: Fleur is like Molly - leading, active -, and Bill is like Fleur’s father - following and passive -, whose name is never mentioned.
Percy Weasley
Finally we get a glimpse of him. To be honest, if a Weasley had to die, I would have preferred it to be Percy. Maybe because he hasn’t played much of an important part in the books, but he would have been redeemed of his traitorously sycophantic behaviour if he had died saving someone who had been important, or something of that sort. However, maybe he’ll now take the guilt from Fred’s death and get a chance to pay his long-due debt of loyalty - and here I am again, speaking as if there were more books to follow…
Ginny Weasley (plus Neville and Luna)
What exactly was Ginny planning to give Harry as a birthday present? I would think it was just a kiss, but then Ron ‘interrupted’ them, and it made it look as if she meant something more, which would have been ridiculous to attempt, considering the house was full to the brim of people.
Anyway, I have to say that she looked a bit ridiculous in her jealousy of Gabrielle Delacour and Cho, in their respective scenes. She had no logical reason to be so, because she and Harry had broken up, so he was free to see any girl he’d like, not that he’d actually do that. But she gets all worked up when Cho offers to accompany him to the Ravenclaw common room, which looked a bit too possessive to me. That being said, she was a nice ringleader to the Silver Trio - Ginny, Luna and Neville -, as people have started to call them. It can’t have been otherwise, seeing as how strong her temper has always been, even though Neville has a lot of merit on his own, but as he’s just starting to discover his amazing abilities, Ginny has had a good grasp on hers for a while longer. Speaking of Neville, the transformation he suffered is close to unbelievable. From his timid, insecure self, he suddenly shows up as this grunged-up version of himself, long haired and determined to push the resistance up front to the very end of their efforts. He even gains a following at the end, and no doubt about it, he’s won it. His moment of glory, and something absolutely fabulous that I’m glad Jo thought of putting there, was his slaying of Nagini’s head. It was simply and heroically fantastic to see him doing it.
And as I’m speaking about such a valuable team, I cannot help but to mention Luna. She was amazing, as she always is, and very brave in the face of great danger and pain. In Ollivander’s own words, ‘you were an inexpressible comfort to me in that terrible place.’ That’s her charm: knowing exactly what it takes to help someone. As in OotP, where she suggests they use Thestrals to fly to the Ministry, she’s always resourceful and refreshingly charming, with her always-unconventional take in everyday reality, which she clearly inherited from her father.
But back on Ginny, she behaved the only way she knew: fiery and rebellious. Fiercely brave and talented, and even though her temper spilled down and made her slip awkwardly at times, she remains a valuable element in the series.
Next: Horcruxes, Malfoys, Death Eaters and Voldemort.