POA: Chapter Three

[kaskait.livejournal.com]

The Knight Bus

*Harry is at large on the streets of Magnolia Crescent and there is anger burning in his heart. But don't worry the love is there too. Its mixing with the anger to create something really good and is sure to save the world.

*Oh no, Harry's stranded in a muggle world. As if the wizarding world is any safer.

*Damn, Harry is now a fugitive and expelled from Hogwarts! He violated the underage magic rule.

*There is a lack of notices from the MOM. I'm thinking this was still during the years that Fudge was still Dumpeydore's water boy.

*Well, now that he is a magical JD, an underage runaway BUT with a vault of gold, why not just use MORE magic? To hell with it all, right Harry? I'm sure the MOM can't pin down you're whereabouts at all. Too bad you aren't as smart as Riddle. I'm sure HE knew all the places he could practice magic without getting expelled. In fact, I'm sure most of Hogwarts (who aren't friends with the trio) know where they can practice magic without being expelled.

*You know, I'm thinking that this restriction is really just to handicap powerful muggle kids.

*Harry feels as if he is being watched. He turns to see a large dog and promptly falls down in surprise.

*The knight bus arrives just in time to prolong the mystery. Damn you Shunpike.

*Shunpike jumps out of the bus to deliver his speech. He is dressed in a purple outfit and his ears are really large and his skin is pimply. I suppose that was why he didn't get a job at the MOM. He was too ugly. We can't have ugly people running around the Ministry. Nope.

*Of course Shunpike has a thick, low class accent. Which is why he is working for a bus company. Don't you just love these books? We always know who is the upper crust from the low because Harry and pals have an RP dialect. Even Ron who should really be speaking with a lower class accent. But then again, his family were most assuredly former Kings of England fallen on low times. Nothing really, really bad can happen to the heroes. The Weaselys may be poor but their blood is the PUREST OF ALL!

*Harry tells Shunpike that he is Neville Longbottom. This is the only time Harry ever thinks of Longbottom away from school. Neville can always be good for an alibi.

*Harry asks Shunpike why muggles can't see the bus. Isn't it great that Harry buys into the prejudice of this world? It is a wonderful example of how loving and giving he really is.

*Shunpike is here only to give information about Black. He is a veritable scholar on Black crimes. He also very generously gives us information on Azkaban.

*Fudge is waiting at the Leaky Cauldron for Harry. Poor Shunpike he fawns all over Fudge. I guess he is still hoping for a better job. Clear up that acne, shrink your ears and learn better pronunciation Shunpike.

*A Harry Potter series bon mot: People who don't speak well deserve the low class jobs they get.

*Another bon mot: If you aren't connected by blood or friendship to someone better, you deserve the low class job you have.

*Fudge laughs off Harry's magical mistake. He states that Aunt Marge has been obliviated and the Dursleys will take him back.

*I shudder to think of what the aurors did to the Dursleys to convince them to take back Harry.

*Harry asks Fudge if he could give him permission to go to Hogsmeade.

*I love how Harry completely forgets all the trouble he has caused and immediately just thinks about his own silly problems. Harry needs to go to Hogsmeade, dammit!

*Fudge refuses to give permission. Damn Fudge, the aurors couldn't get a signed permission note from the Dursleys while they were messing with the Dursleys memories? This is HARRY POTTER you know. He just can't be treated like any old normal person.

*Harry is shown to his room and Hedwig is waiting for him.

*I guess staying with the Weaselys was too much for even Hedwig to handle. She would have rather taken shelter with the homeless Harry. Darn, that is saying quite a bit about the Weaselys.

*Harry then sleeps the sleep of the pure and blameless at the Leaky Cauldron inn.

Comments

[harrythebrave.livejournal.com]

*Of course Shunpike has a thick, low class accent. Which is why he is working for a bus company. Don't you just love these books? We always know who is the upper crust from the low because Harry and pals have an RP dialect. Even Ron who should really be speaking with a lower class accent. But then again, his family were most assuredly former Kings of England fallen on low times. Nothing really, really bad can happen to the heroes. The Weaselys may be poor but their blood is the PUREST OF ALL!

The books are overrun with prejudice - but we are supposed to be selective in our prejudice and love the Weasleys but hate all Slytherins, etc. It's not what you come from - remember that. Even if all Weasleys are lumped together and all Slytherins are evil at eleven simply for wanting to be sorted to Slytherin.

*Fudge refuses to give permission. Damn Fudge, the aurors couldn't get a signed permission note from the Dursleys while they were messing with the Dursleys memories? This is HARRY POTTER you know. He just can't be treated like any old normal person.

So threatening them is fine but getting them to sign a permission slip for The Chosen one is too much. All the better to make Sirius seem good in Harry's eyes later by getting him to sign it - oh, yes, they accept signitures from wanted criminals (above the Minister) for permission slips to Hogsmeade! Sure Sirius is his godfather, but still... Sometimes the plotpoints have to override the logic...

[kaskait.livejournal.com]

All the better to make Sirius seem good in Harry's eyes later by getting him to sign it - oh, yes, they accept signitures from wanted criminals (above the Minister) for permission slips to Hogsmeade! Sure Sirius is his godfather, but still... Sometimes the plotpoints have to override the logic...

Right. I'm sure it wouldn't attract too much attention to Sirius when he signed that permission slip. Plus it wasn't even the Dursleys fault that they didn't sign the slip. Harry ran away.

But wait, Harry is always blameless because he is full of pure...er...love.

[woman-ironing.livejournal.com]

Found myself here when I tried to open an umbrella at the roadside.

Hey, what's with this imputation that bus conductors must necessarily be thick? And what is this class thing of which you speak? Some of my best friends are bus conductors! (Which you will know is a barefaced lie because my writing speaks with RP, and anyway there is no longer any such thing as a bus conductor. Okay, some of my best friends are actually former Kings of England.)

[kaskait.livejournal.com]

Then why, pray tell, did the book find it necessary to use this dialect for Stan's speech?

"Woss that on your ead?"

If this was an egalitarian society with proper education for all (for a population considerably smaller than non-magical people) then why is Stan stuck in this job, with a horrible accent and sucking up to Fudge?

Why is Ron given proper pronunciation in the book or even Harry. Why aren't they given slang written speech like Stan? If its not written like that, then they don't speak with accents. They speak with proper diction. Which is only correct because they are the elite in these books.

The movies are another matter.

[saylee.livejournal.com]

What's worse is that Stan is only supposed to be a couple of years older than Harry, but he clearly doesn't go to Hogwarts and it's supposed to be the only magical school in Britain. Are working class kids not entitled to an education in the wizarding world? The only person we see athogwarts who seems to come from a working class background is Snape (maybe Hagrid?).

[saylee.livejournal.com]

*Harry is at large on the streets of Magnolia Crescent and there is anger burning in his heart. But don't worry the love is there too. Its mixing with the anger to create something really good and is sure to save the world.

I'm picturing Harry's insides as some sort of chemistry experiment, now. Maybe all that mixing helps fertilize the chest monster egg he picked up from Hagrid's coat in PS.

*You know, I'm thinking that this restriction is really just to handicap powerful muggle kids.

Nah, it's there to make Harry seem properly put upon, even if the rules end up being waived for him after all.

*Shunpike is here only to give information about Black. He is a veritable scholar on Black crimes. He also very generously gives us information on Azkaban.

Maybe that knowledge will come in handy for him when he's arrested for being a Death Eater a few years from now.

*A Harry Potter series bon mot: People who don't speak well deserve the low class jobs they get.

That is, unless they're loyal followers of Dumbledore. Then they deserve promotions to jobs they are completely unqualified for.

[kaskait.livejournal.com]

I think he probably did go to Hogwarts and didn't do so well in 5th year. So he was out by 6th.

You see, Hogwarts gives a place but it doesn't do much more than that. Unless you're a special case like Harry or even the Weaselys.

I mean if the Twins did so bad on their O.W.L.s, why were they allowed to stay? And, if Stan (theoretically) did just as awful, why did he leave?

Plus even more strange is that noone Harry knows speaks with such a crazy dialect unless it is Hagrid. Well Hagrid was kicked out.

What did Snape do? He got rid of his accent. Which puts him in the same spot as the Dursleys. He is trying to be something he isn't and thats BAD to the BONE.

[kaskait.livejournal.com]

Maybe that knowledge will come in handy for him when he's arrested for being a Death Eater a few years from now.

That also gives Harry the cache of being a friend to the working class. Yep. He is almost a marxist that Harry. He rode on a bus!

[woman-ironing.livejournal.com]

Then why, pray tell, did the book find it necessary to use this dialect for Stan's speech?

Because the working classes with their quaint accents are intrinsically comical;) Just ask Shakespeare!

Does egalitarian mean everyone speaking with the same voice, then? And the only jobs being the white-collar type? Why should Stan not be happy working as a bus conductor? Looks like fun to me, and he gets to meet celebrities. (Actually, I thought he was a little free with Mr Fudge. Had they been introduced?) But woss wrong wiv Stan's accent? Uh? We all talk like that round here, dahling - I mean, darlin'.

Why is Ron given proper pronunciation in the book or even Harry. Why aren't they given slang written speech like Stan?

Because it would be tedious. The apostrophes alone! Mind you, I always like to read Harry as a scouser myself...

[artystone.livejournal.com]

The Weaselys may be poor but their blood is the PUREST OF ALL!


...BECAUSE they're poor!

[kaskait.livejournal.com]

Because the working classes with their quaint accents are intrinsically comical;) Just ask Shakespeare!

Then why doesn't Harry attend school with ANY student who speaks like Stan? Hmmm, its comical, so why not include a whole boatload of them?

I'm pointing out the way the books are written, not trying to justify its choices. Right now, as it stands, the books are based on classism and the hero condones it. Whether or not the author changes it in the future is unknown.

[kaskait.livejournal.com]

Oh yes,

I know that old myth, To be poor is to be more authentic.

I think most people would take money to pay bills over authenticity any day.

[q-spade.livejournal.com]

From the gist of the conversation, you don't seem to be the one trying to justify the author's choice of specific stereotypes to inform Stan Shunpike's character. :)

I agree with your critique wholeheartedly, and think you make a very good point here:

If this was an egalitarian society with proper education for all (for a population considerably smaller than non-magical people) then why is Stan stuck in this job, with a horrible accent and sucking up to Fudge?

Why indeed? And whether or not Stan is "happy working as a bus conductor" is irrelevant – he's there because of lack of choices in his circumstances.

[merrymelody.livejournal.com]

I'd say that just from the couple of mentions of him in the text, he doesn't sound particularly satisfied with his job.

"It sounds like he was trying to make out he knew more than he did," said Ron. "Isn't he the one who claimed he was going to become Minister of Magic when he was trying to chat up those veela?"

[teratologist.livejournal.com]

Because the working classes with their quaint accents are intrinsically comical;) Just ask Shakespeare!

Other things that are intrinsically comical according to Shakespeare:

Angry women getting their comeuppance.
Angry Jews getting their comeuppance.
People getting chased by bears.
Calling people prostitutes.

Nothing against Shakespeare, it's just that occasionally sensibilities change over the course of the centuries.

Angry brothers getting their comeuppance.

[q-spade.livejournal.com]

Let us not forget Aaron the Moor in Titus Andronicus!

Let fools do good, and fair men call for grace,
Aaron will have his soul black like his face.

[kaskait.livejournal.com]

he's there because of lack of choices in his circumstances.

Yes. He is also filling a position that seems rather useless. Ernie doesn't really need him to take the tickets. Couldn't some magical doodad accomplish the same with less fuss?

[woman-ironing.livejournal.com]

Then why doesn't Harry attend school with ANY student who speaks like Stan? Hmmm, its comical, so why not include a whole boatload of them?

Heck, it's not that comical!

Come on, Harry doesn't know the meaning of the word condone. He probably thinks it's something he should wear when having sex with Draco.

[woman-ironing.livejournal.com]

And whether or not Stan is "happy working as a bus conductor" is irrelevant

Y'know, I think Stan might argue with you on that.

And what is this dangerous idea of giving people with regional accents choices?

(What on earth is so horrible about Stan's accent? Millions of Londoners are perfectly happy with it!)

In fact, Fudge was only third choice for Minister for Magic; he got the job after first Dumbledore and then Stan had turned it down. According to The Quibbler anyway. If you check Wizipedia you'll discover that Stan Shunpike is a famed entrepeneur and owner of the EasyKnightBus network. He regularly does a stint on the platform to keep in touch with the needs of his customers and staff. His philanthropic interests include a foundation for the preservation and promotion of the UK's many diverse regional accents. He has an important collection of vintage buses, which is open to the public at his eighteenth century Sussex country house, Pikesworth.

[kaskait.livejournal.com]

He probably thinks it's something he should wear when having sex with Draco.

Lol. Probably.

But I'm peeved with how Harry has an almost autistic response to the world around him. At his age, I was certainly aware of the racism, sexism and classism in the world. I don't believe that many can grow up without that awareness.

So is this blissful ignorant going to save the world with purity because of his ignorance?

[q-spade.livejournal.com]

Do you have a point to make? Because so far your commentary w/r/t this chapter of POA isn't making much sense, and while humor tends to be subjective even at the best of times, you seem to be laughing harder at your own "jokes" than anyone else.

Which is all well and good in your own journal, but this is a community. Where people communicate, interact and discuss each chapter of a given book as it comes up. kaskait has done a very good job of politely responding to you, and deserves better than a lame reference to Harry and Draco having sex.

[q-spade.livejournal.com]

I'm peeved with how Harry has an almost autistic response to the world around him.

Have to agree it makes me peevish, too. But it's a consistent part of Harry's character; I wonder if that will continue into Book 7 or if his psyche will undergo a final, fundamental internal change, which could then lead to external changes in the world around him. The latter scenario would make sense, but he was so petty & passive in HBP that...hmmm.

We'll see when it comes out, I suppose!

[kaskait.livejournal.com]

But it's a consistent part of Harry's character; I wonder if that will continue into Book 7 or if his psyche will undergo a final, fundamental internal change, which could then lead to external changes in the world around him.

Yes, I'm hoping for a big change in him as well. But I'm not going to count on it.

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

It's interesting to take apart the accent thing if it's funny. I mean, would McGonagall be funny with an accent?

I think it's probably more, as you say, just pulling on certain stereotypes--comforting ones, perhaps, because it suggests the WW mirrors the Muggle world in ways it wouldn't necessarily do (while overturning the connection between exclusive boarding school with money by substituting magic). I've always liked Elkins' look at that aspect and the comparisons to the familiar types of Agatha Christie:

http://www.theennead.com/elkins/hp/archives/000145.html

[woman-ironing.livejournal.com]

That list, it's from Borat isn't it?

it's just that occasionally sensibilities change over the course of the centuries.

In the USA maybe. Over here we like things to be just like they were in about 1600. As the fourth amendment to the British Constitution has it, if it was good enough for my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandmother, it's good enough for me.