If we construe the “Harry Potter” series as a true literary text, we must read it, understanding that our expectations for the plot and its characters are unlikely to be fulfilled. In the first book, Rowling suggests that the Dursleys will suffer from ultimate divine retribution for their cruel behaviors. This expectation is augmented by Hagrid’s surprise appearance at the hut on the rocks, a situation in which he threatens Vernon Dursley and expresses his dismay that Harry has been kept in the dark about his true past. Since Harry is the clear protagonist, we as the reader want his cruel Muggle family to suffer for their unfairness. This expectation is fulfilled, although on a relatively superficial and minor scale, when Dudley must live temporarily with his pig tail. In the second book, expectations for Ron’s behavior are raised and dashed. When Ron and Harry opt to fly Mr. Weasley’s car to Hogwarts and crash it into the Whomping Willow, we finally understand that Ron Weasley is more like his brothers Fred and George than like Percy, an unfortunate realization for his mother. He will have the heart of a lion and a moral compass directed more towards fun and adventure than responsibility. That Ron is heroic and his little regard for the rules explain why the two are such good friends and why Ron is always involved in Hogwarts mischief. Our expectation for Harry’s Quidditch career is fulfilled, since we are told that his father was a great flier and come to learn that Harry too has a similar knack for the sport, judging by his ability to recover Neville’s Remembrall and his being situated as the first First-Year seeker in a century. When an author fails to fulfill an expectation, the reader is forced to rethink he approach to characterization and place those events into a different spectrum. New events must then be cast on a different time-line, one which has a different ultimate ending. Our ideal ending for characters is exactly that, an ending which we have created in our ideal literary universe, which is not the same as the one which the author had in mind.
I like what you said at the end from "When an author fails to fulfill an expectation" on. When reading these books and others I will find myself criticizing the author saying or thinking things like "why would you ever write these words in this novel" referencing certain events or situations both physically and emotionally that disagree with what my "ideal fulfillment" would be of those events and situations. Most normal people are looking forward to the "happy ending" (I personally enjoy tragedies). But rarely do we arrive at the same ideal happy ending in the same way the author does. "Happy ending" is a very general term for your overall sense of satifaction at the end of a event or situation. Your agreement with its portrayal, which will vary respectibly for each individual. Good post
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