Blog post # 1 response. Emersion is in the details

Blog post # 1 response Judith Vanderpool

I think that once we open ourselves up to J.K. Rowlings imagination and let go of our expectations and read on with a sense of emersion rather than expectancy we absorb the journey. If we read these books with new eyes open to the imagery and look further into subtle details there we feel connected with the happenings. I remember reading the books for the first time and being so consumed by the story and Wizarding word I would go through my day narrating, in my mind, what happened to me like the narrator did for Harry.

The total emersion lies in the details that make us feel intimate with the scene; for starters we meet the Dursley’s at their agonizingly “normal” repetitive home. Nothing is ever new, (besides Duddley’s toys). We find anything outside normal limits i.e. work and quiet evenings watching television and eating dinner was just unacceptable. To assure things remained as such Harry was locked away. I don’t know about you but I felt I knew the Dursley’s right off and needed no further description on their behalf. Another example of how Rowling really draws us in by including the Hogwarts letter. She does not merely say he gets a letter she gives the whole letter to us making us feel we are part of the realization process. We are then intorduced to Gringotts and its marble white floors and rollercoaster ride to the vaults; all are examples oh how we come to paint this picture, or rather obsorbe the picture Rowling paints for us.
 I loved when The Burrow was discribed tall and leaning, old and haphazered looking. We then see gnomes and that they breathe and move and talk and how to de-gnome.
  Details are also key when meeting Ron a poor pureblood with firey hair tall and gangly. Then there is Hagrid who is huge and his accent is potent which gives us a strong sense of what it would be like to be around him, his bushy beard and hair. Hermione is small bushy  haired buck toothed (funny since her parents are dentists) and pushy socially and intellectully. All of these small details help us “see” who we are getting to know.

Character relationships could go on and on but quickly Harry feels connected to Ron because he is young likeable and has what Harry never had, family. I believe Harry felt drawn to Ron because he sensed loyalty in him, I say loyalty because Ron was kind and respectful to his mother(before he took the flying car showing his adventureous and somewhat disobediant side.). Ron did not kid his mother like the Twins did and I think Harry would love to have had that chance. Hagrid was like an uncle in my opinion loving guidance yet he didn’t overstep his bounds, he lead Harry to the proper places but let Harry explore on his own. I think Hagrid’s guidance and belief let Harry breathe a sigh of relief both from expectation and also knowing someone had his back.  Lastly Hermione is accepted by Ron and Harry only after the defeat the troll together. I do think she is bossy and a know-it-all but the age and gender have a role to play in the lack of immediate friendship also. Ron had 5 brothers and 1 sister Harry had no interaction with girls, which is why I think age and gender played a role of aversion to friendship here.