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"stereotypes" of bullies in HP and elsewhere
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From: Vanston <jvanston>
Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 10:15:48 -0500 (EST)
Someone mentioned in a message that the portrayl of bullies in HP made them cringe. This has brought up a point that I've been thinking about for a while. When reviews criticize a lack of depth in a bully/villain characterization, I wonder if this is only the adult perspective. After all, as a kid, did you really get to see the "soft, vulnerable" side of that bully? Does a tormented kid really see that a bad family life has produced the bullying qualities, and the bully is to be pitied? These are adult takes on the situation. I think that to a child being victimized, a bully IS unredeemable. A bully can have tremendous power over his/her victim. To this child, characters like Dracoy would probably ring somewhat true. And seeing a powerful bully (whether it be a teacher who plays favorites like Snape or troublemakers and tormentors like Dracoy) vanquished, or at least temporarily defeated, gives that child a sense of vicarious power.
Perhaps we, as adults, tend to forget that claustrophobic, sometimes vicious world of classroom social dynamics. And for some children, bullying only ends when they leave the situation, not because the bully is discovered to have humane qualities, or has a Hollywood-like change of heart.
How do others feel about this?
P.S. I know there ARE more realistic portrayls of bullies - Anne Fine's THE TULIP TOUCH is an amazing book, and presents both the adult and child views of an enemy. But this would be inappropriate in a humorous fantasy book.
Jen Vanston jvanston at suffolk.lib.ny.us South Country Library, Children's Librarian Bellport, NY
"People say that life is the thing, but I prefer reading"
-Logan Pearsall Smith
Received on Mon 29 Nov 1999 09:15:48 AM CST
Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 10:15:48 -0500 (EST)
Someone mentioned in a message that the portrayl of bullies in HP made them cringe. This has brought up a point that I've been thinking about for a while. When reviews criticize a lack of depth in a bully/villain characterization, I wonder if this is only the adult perspective. After all, as a kid, did you really get to see the "soft, vulnerable" side of that bully? Does a tormented kid really see that a bad family life has produced the bullying qualities, and the bully is to be pitied? These are adult takes on the situation. I think that to a child being victimized, a bully IS unredeemable. A bully can have tremendous power over his/her victim. To this child, characters like Dracoy would probably ring somewhat true. And seeing a powerful bully (whether it be a teacher who plays favorites like Snape or troublemakers and tormentors like Dracoy) vanquished, or at least temporarily defeated, gives that child a sense of vicarious power.
Perhaps we, as adults, tend to forget that claustrophobic, sometimes vicious world of classroom social dynamics. And for some children, bullying only ends when they leave the situation, not because the bully is discovered to have humane qualities, or has a Hollywood-like change of heart.
How do others feel about this?
P.S. I know there ARE more realistic portrayls of bullies - Anne Fine's THE TULIP TOUCH is an amazing book, and presents both the adult and child views of an enemy. But this would be inappropriate in a humorous fantasy book.
Jen Vanston jvanston at suffolk.lib.ny.us South Country Library, Children's Librarian Bellport, NY
"People say that life is the thing, but I prefer reading"
-Logan Pearsall Smith
Received on Mon 29 Nov 1999 09:15:48 AM CST
