DHSpoilers- Oh, Fred...?

Question

I seem to think that the last book was bad, and I seem to be the only one thinking that. I looovvveed Fred. And Snape!, Hedwig, Tonks, Lupin, George's Ear. Why did JKR have to kill them? I think Percy should have died...like, angst-like-crazy. Have him return to the family then die? What's better then that? And FredandGeorge just being George is really depressing. I've finished reading that book exactly a month ago and I'm still not over the deaths.
I read something where she says George will never get over the death of his brother, which is sad [then why'd you kill him off?], but will name his first son after him. Which helped my 'Why didn't Ginny get to pick the names for the kids,' I mean come on:
Ginny: Well- I knew my brother his whole life and you knew your parents for a year!
That has to be one of the best arguments. Has to be.

Answer 1

I'm so sad about the final book :(

Answer 2

Hi!

Well, I've hear JK Rowling said something that is quite true. The effects of war are sad, they are not always fair and, well, these guys where in the heart of a war.
She said that wars break families, wars leave orfan children, wars get people killed that do not deserve to die. And that she wanted to capture that in her book.
She always defended the fact of speaking about death and other "bad things" in a open and sincere way to kids and young people: not hiding things and expressing facts as they are... Of course, in a sincere way that does not lack of love. I think she manages to do just that, and I do think the book is written in a very realistic sort of way in this aspect.

I'd have been disappointed is every single bad guy died, and if every single good guy lived happily ever after, to tell you the truth. That does not mean I'm happy with some of the people she "killed" so to speak, but I am happy with what she expressed.

Fred's death instead of Percy well. I see your point. However, I do think that if Percy had died he would have been left as some kind of martir that wouldn't have been really fair ("Oh! He came back and die for his family", "Oh! He was right to have stayed away, look at what happened when he returned"). Fred's death on the other hand, makes you appreciate really the vulnerability of life: here's this person that was always there, helping, making fun, and that got killed. I'm sure that this made Percy see through a lot of things too, he's left -in a way- like the dorkhead that did not get to spend time with his brother because of a time of feeble family values.

Harry was left an orphan after the "first war", this time it was Teddy. However, Teddy does have a loving family to go to and a cool godfather that takes care of him too.
Snape, well... he was bound to do so. I do not imagine him living after the war. I think his death really allowed people to perceive the truth about himself. I think that even Harry would have kept doubting him if he was still alive.

About Ginny and the name picking. You do have a point and I share it! I mean, this is a strong girl, that -I think- is the one that takes charge around the house (I mean, let's face it: Harry is happy just having a "regular life" like he always wanted). However, Harry has always been clear about what his parents mean to him, so he wins this. However, who is not to tell us that James could probably be "James Alfred".... After Fred.
Beside, My guess is that George's son was born first here... So, there was already another Fred around, and it'd be of bad taste to take that away from George.

Wow!
This was kind of long!

Goodluck!

Answer 3

U're not the only one! I mean- Fred AND George! Even in Wikipedia- it says 'Fred and George'! The book wasn't bad, but I am sad about the deaths- I luuuved Tonk and Lupin! Poor Lupin, I just remembered the part where he shows the pic of Teddy b4 the battle- a baby 'waving it's fat fist' *sniff* Well, I guess it would've been better if Percy died, but I think I would still b sad... :pPp Hehe, can't really say I was sad about George's ear... :) And yea, you're right- why throw George into sadness, then? Hmpf, yea- hooray, he named his son after him, I'm not sad anymore! Yea, right. Anyway- some1 here said that it's not your book- well, I think u and every1 else has THEIR opinion and has the RIGHT to say it or discuss about it!

And oh, yea, I agree with Witherwings- they didn't mourn much over Lupin and Tonks, not even Fred- like they never existed! :-/

Answer 4

Harry is the "star" of the book so i guess thats why the kids got named after his parents, Dumbledore and Snape. i don't like the sound of it but i suppose it ties the happy ending together. i don't understand why Hedwig and Dobby had to die. i had a feeling one of the Weasley's would not live til the end but i didn't think Fred would be the one to go. and Lupin and Tonks i don't think readers were given enough time to mourn because soon Harry was out there pretending to be dead (lol i found that kind of funny how he was barely peeping through his eyes to see) and finishing off Voldemort. oh well im still a hp fan but i don't think i will be rereading the book for a while.

Answer 5

Hmmmm, don't you think it might have hurt Ginny a bit more to consider naming any son after her brother? George is a lot better to understand why he'd name his first born son after Fred (by the way, it was the July 30th online interview where Rowling said this). They were identical twins and each was very much a part of the other. So while the entire family would miss Fred, George would be the worst hit by his loss.

Also, Harry didn't really know his folks despite their being a part of his life for the first year and three months of his life. And often when naming the first born son their named after their father or his father. Ginny may have wanted to name both James and Lily after Harry's folks cause unlike her he didn't have the chance to know them. Albus seems the only one she may not have had a say in as he seems more likely to have had his name picked for him by his father.

Answer 6

I am not ashamed to admie that I cried through most of the last third of the book. Lots of my favourite characters were dying left right and center. Lupin and Tonk's death especially moved me, because, you're right, they left behind a son. But Teddy wouldn't have been like Harry, because, although his parents were dead, he would always have a home with Harry and Ginny, his grandmother was alive to take care of him, and he was going to grow up in a happier world. His parents, like Harry's, had died to provide him with a future, and a better world.

I think that, by killing off so many characters, JK made an important statement. So many books end with baddies getting their just deserts and all the goodies remains with limbs (and lives) intact. But life isn't like that. The wizards were fighting a war, and war isn't choosy about whom it takes. Death doesn't just happen to bad people, it happens to everyone. This was the point of the whole Harry Potter series. Death is not good, it happens to good people, but nor is it a bad thing. Sometimes sacrifices need to be made for the greater good. And it's horrible, watching characters you've grown up, and loved, die unnessesarily, but it lets you understand not only the nature of war and death, but life as well. And in the end, it gives you hope.
(Sounds corny, but it's true).
I disagree with you statement that Percy should've died. His punishment was much worse- he would live forevermore thinking that it was his fault that his brother died, and it would have torn him up inside.

Finally, I think that Ginny probably liked the names James and Lilly, not just because of sentimental reasons, but because they're just nice names. Not every child of a fictional character needs to be named after someone who died.

I hope this has helped.

Answer 7

You have to remember that this isn't your book. You didn't author it, thus it's JK's choice.

If you don't like, that's just too bad! :p It's not going to change, and in the end, it's all fictional.

Criticizing her amazing writing isn't going to get you anywhere, other than into a big ol' pile of angst.

ALSO. If you would read interviews that had been done with JK, you would find that she wrote her books with the attitude that children and adults alike should learn about, and not fear, death. It's obvious that death was a large part of the entire series.

Answer 8

yes, i agree.. it's sad that Fred died... it's not easy for all the harry potter fans out there, including u and i... however, that's the way it's been written, so that's the way it is, then...

however, among all the deaths in all the 7 books, i'd have to say that the death of Sirius Black has got to me the most... coz he's like, the closest living relative of Harry, till his death... imagine losing someone so close to urself... how would harry feel?

nevertheless, as with life, the story must go on...
as for the names of ginny and harry's children... i don't have much problem with that... however, i kinda like the fact that harry named all of them based on the names of ppl he loves... i especially like 'albus severus potter'... =D

Answer 9

I totally agree. Everybody I ask seemed to love the book and I thought it was rushed and boring. Your arguement is really good. I hardly think a 11 year old would really want to be called Albus.

Answer 10

I think you are right, especially about lupin and tonks, they left behind a son, who will end up just like harry!