How Jo Proves Stereotypes to be Dead Wrong
Nov. 4th, 2010 08:24 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
terri-testing.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
deathtocapslockOr, Hagrid the Gentle (half-)Giant
We all remember that in PS Hagrid responded to Vernon's insult of Dumbledore with a vicious magical assault on Vernon's little boy.
But I’d entirely forgotten how in GoF Jo worked to establish that half-giants who inherit the dominant genes for stupidity show no signs at all of giants’ (canon) corresponding penchant for brutal violence. Only evil people like Rita Skeeter and the Slytherins would ever believe such a thing!
When Karkaroff comes to the Forbidden Forest to discover that Barty Crouch had attacked the Durmstrang competitor, he accuses Dumbledore of treachery and double-dealing, and shows what he thinks of Dumbledore’s “talk of closer international wizarding links” by spitting on the ground at Dumble’s feet.
In one swift movement, Hagrid seized the front of Karkaroff's furs, lifted him into the air, and slammed him against a nearby tree.
"Apologize!" Hagrid snarled as Karkaroff gasped for breath, Hagrid's massive fist at his throat, his feet dangling in midair.
"Hagrid, no!" Dumbledore shouted, his eyes flashing.
Hagrid removed the hand pinning Karkaroff to the tree, and Karkaroff slid all the way down the trunk and slumped in a huddle at its roots; a few twigs and leaves showered down upon his head.
"Kindly escort Harry back up to the castle, Hagrid," said Dumbledore sharply.
Bear in mind that the difference in size and weight between Hagrid and Karkaroff is about that between a normal adult man and a (perhaps) four-year-old boy. Jo had recently showed us a photo which established that at eleven Hagrid was 7-8 feet tall and could easily give a grown man a ride on his shoulder, and the half-giant grew a lot after that.
It’s also a nice touch that Hagrid instinctively knows to use his limited magical power against the child terrified of magic, and physical violence against the wizard who outclasses him magically but is substantially less than half his size.
Wanna guess whether Karkaroff received an apology from either Hagrid or Dumbledore in canon? Or whether Dumbles sacked Hagrid for assaulting a guest and almost causing an international incident? We saw that, though Dumbles stopped the violence, he said no word in reproof to his employee and loyal follower. Nor did he make a move to help the half-asphyxiated victim.
Echoes much?
Anyway, it’s nice to know that Skeeter was dead wrong in encouraging her readers to wonder whether half-giants might inherit their giant progenitor’s brutality.
We all remember that in PS Hagrid responded to Vernon's insult of Dumbledore with a vicious magical assault on Vernon's little boy.
But I’d entirely forgotten how in GoF Jo worked to establish that half-giants who inherit the dominant genes for stupidity show no signs at all of giants’ (canon) corresponding penchant for brutal violence. Only evil people like Rita Skeeter and the Slytherins would ever believe such a thing!
When Karkaroff comes to the Forbidden Forest to discover that Barty Crouch had attacked the Durmstrang competitor, he accuses Dumbledore of treachery and double-dealing, and shows what he thinks of Dumbledore’s “talk of closer international wizarding links” by spitting on the ground at Dumble’s feet.
In one swift movement, Hagrid seized the front of Karkaroff's furs, lifted him into the air, and slammed him against a nearby tree.
"Apologize!" Hagrid snarled as Karkaroff gasped for breath, Hagrid's massive fist at his throat, his feet dangling in midair.
"Hagrid, no!" Dumbledore shouted, his eyes flashing.
Hagrid removed the hand pinning Karkaroff to the tree, and Karkaroff slid all the way down the trunk and slumped in a huddle at its roots; a few twigs and leaves showered down upon his head.
"Kindly escort Harry back up to the castle, Hagrid," said Dumbledore sharply.
Bear in mind that the difference in size and weight between Hagrid and Karkaroff is about that between a normal adult man and a (perhaps) four-year-old boy. Jo had recently showed us a photo which established that at eleven Hagrid was 7-8 feet tall and could easily give a grown man a ride on his shoulder, and the half-giant grew a lot after that.
It’s also a nice touch that Hagrid instinctively knows to use his limited magical power against the child terrified of magic, and physical violence against the wizard who outclasses him magically but is substantially less than half his size.
Wanna guess whether Karkaroff received an apology from either Hagrid or Dumbledore in canon? Or whether Dumbles sacked Hagrid for assaulting a guest and almost causing an international incident? We saw that, though Dumbles stopped the violence, he said no word in reproof to his employee and loyal follower. Nor did he make a move to help the half-asphyxiated victim.
Echoes much?
Anyway, it’s nice to know that Skeeter was dead wrong in encouraging her readers to wonder whether half-giants might inherit their giant progenitor’s brutality.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}