Posted by Martin Pergler on June 26, 2003 at 08:04:09 from 213.61.157.2 user pergler.
In Reply to: Re: Aging Characters: Harry Potter - Swallows and Amazons posted by Robert Hill on June 25, 2003 at 19:25:39:
Yes, and there is clear development in these examples. Nancy's handling of the policeman in SA is a pretty crude brute-force use of social class; her handling of the doctor in WH is less crude, but still "childish" (no negative connotation intended) and dependent on a willing victim. Her manipulation of her mother in PP, and of all and sundry in PM is much more adult-like. The Amazons' general relationship with the adult world is one of minor rebellion in SA/SD growing into emerging independence in WH,PP, and GN.
The series has different "coming of age" books for different characters, where by this I mean exposure to a suddenly much more mature set of problems through whose successful treatment the character matures very rapidly. The classical example is of course WDMTGTS (John), but I see PP and PM acting in a similar way for Nancy, and to a lesser extent SW for Titty, PM for Dorothea, perhaps both WH and PP for Susan, and of course CC for Tom and BS for the Pirates.