The Harry Potter books are excellent, but there are a couple of aspects that are really nonsensical.
First off: Quidditch. Is it just me, or is this game really stupid? The rules are absurd, and magic or no there's no way anyone would enjoy playing it. I could go into great detail, but if you've read any of the books then I'm sure you already know what I'm talking about; if you haven't, then complaints about quaffles and snitches won't make any sense anyway. (Or, if you really want to read a scathing analysis, check out Quidditch Sucks by jmachinder.)
Secondly, what's the deal with the Ministry of Magic? I'm reading Order of the Phoenix at the moment, and I'm astounded by how much power the Ministry has. They can change school rules on a whim? Hire and fire teachers? Conduct inquisitions and secret trials? Prohibit teachers from saying anything to students that isn't school-related? Ban all clubs and associations? Is there no limit to the Ministry's authority? Within the wizarding world, the Minister of Magic is apparently omnipotent. Maybe this is a particularly British perspective on government, but it rings false to this American. No citizenry, much less a population of wizards, would stand for such fascism.
Americans are citizens (at least in theory). Britons are subjects. The difference is profound. Here, government agencies are ultimately creations of the people. There? They are agents of the crown.
Which, I guess, brings up a point J.K. Rowling hasn’t explained. What, exactly, is the relationship between the Wizarding World and H.R.H. Queen Elizabeth?
Hmm. That’s a puzzler, and no mistake.
Well, Hogwart's is in a way, the Ministry of Magic's school. I mean, it's sort of like an American military academy. Anyway, I totally agree with you about quidditch. It's awful. I think she just put it in there so that kids who like sports would read the books.
DM: Right, it's weird to read from that perspective, though.
M: Regarding Hogwarts, you may be right... I've never really been clear on the relationship between the school and the rest of the world. There are apparently other magic schools in the rest of the world, but Hogwarts is the only one in England? So nearly every wizard in the books went there, right? That doesn't make a great deal of sense either.
though lee jordan tends to be humorous during the quidditch matches, i also find them annoying to plug through. but every little boy i've spoken to who has read all five books says he lives for the quidditch games. it does make sense to have dorm competition through sports at a prep school, don't you think?
s: Lee Jordan is great, sure, and the competition is a good device, but the rules of the game are incredibly stupid. I guess the point is that the game needed to be designed to revolve around Harry Potter, just like the rest of the universe.
Come to think of it, I like Order of the Phoenix better than the earlier books because HP isn't so annoying.
P.S., steve, email me.
According to the Harry Potter Lexicon, the Ministry of Magic is under the Prime Minister, so the Muggle Prime Minister knows about the wizarding world but keeps it secret from the Muggles. One would presume that he would keep the Queen apprised of major events in the wizarding world that might affect the Muggle world, such as the escape of Black.
http://www.hp-lexicon.org/ministry/w_ministry.html
And yes, Quidditch is very contrived and un-amusing. Because (World Cup notwithstanding) it is highly improbable that any team could get 160 points up on the opposing team before the snitch is caught, the game's optimal strategy is obviously to find the Snitch as quickly as possible. The rest is window-dressing and might as well not be there, although it would make the game more interesting if the position of Keeper were eliminated, increasing the likelihood that a team could win without catching the snitch.
As a game that Harry and only Harry can help the team win, it is a great plot device. But it (or a 2-D game like it) would not be interesting in the real world, since spectators would find the quaffle action distracting from the snitch action, and players would not really want to be Chasers, Keepers, or Beaters. (well, maybe Beaters since they take some part in the snitch action.)
Think about the danger and possible injuries that could occur playing Quidditch - falling from a broom being one of the worst. Regardless how many wizards are present, regardless how powerful the students think they are, what self-respecting parent would let their child compete in such a dangerous sport? What self-respecting school would risk their students over a game?
And you're correct about the scoring system. It's incomprehensible.
Wait - I have a question. Daniel, you say Britons are subjects....I thought the crown had no more real ruling power? The Brits elect the Prime Minister (or at least the party), right? Why would they, legally, still be considered subjects of the crown?
I am trying to verify accounts that some children recieved injuries by trying to cross the brick barrier at platform 9 3/4 at Kings Crossing. I understand the movie was filmed at a different station. Is there any truth to these rumors?
Clyde Partin MD
CP: I'm sure that children have hurt themselves running into the brick wall at platform 9 3/4. After all, babies are stupid.