A quick thought on the punch vs slap dichotomy

[heidi]

I'm irked about the punch vs slap, because in the book, it actually showcases something about Draco's character which will be transformed in the movie into something entirely different. She slaps him, he walks away. Whether he does this because you don't voluntarily touch a Mudblood for any reason whatsoever, or because you don't hit girls even if they're Mudbloods, or because he really does have a massive crush on her that he's unwilling to admit, even to himself, that's completely lost in the film, where she punches him hard enough to require Crabbe and Goyle to carry him off (but his nose isn't bleeding? What's up with that?).


Oh, and does anyone still have my "Does Lucius Know?" D/Hr icon from around the release of CoS? I can't find it and would love to get it back...

Comments

[lizardlaugh.livejournal.com]

I don't have a problem with the punch from Hermione's perspective. Had something similar happen to me as a kid (bully) and I punched the shit out of him. He never made fun of me again. And no, I didn't get in trouble for the same reason Hermione won't -- being the "good kid". Actually, I suspect my teachers thought the little bastard had it coming.

And as an aside... I think here is where the breakdown comes in terms of JKR's feelings towards Draco. JKR was a working class kid who was bullied by people like Draco. She wore big glasses and was unattractive and picked on. I can relate, because I was like that in Jr. High. As much as readers see something more in Draco (and there just might be, I wouldn't be surprized, I see it too), he's never going to be anything more than asshole, even if he is 'good'. Sort of like Snape -- redeemed, but still a jerk. JKR is going to punish him because it is like punishing those kids who treated you badly in school. Revenge. She probably doesn't feel sorry for him at all because it is not very easy to feel sorry for your tormentors.