This is why Rowling fails, you know

[branchandroot]

Just tripped over a particularly clear moment of idiocy on Wikipedia, pointing to a Rowling chat transcript. It's about Gryffindor's sword, and the goblins.

Now, I recall fairly clearly that there was, shall we say, cultural conflict at work in that case. A goblin work was handed to someone for money. In human understanding it was sold. In goblin understanding it was leased.

(See, we even have human ideas for the difference.)

So later on, when Gryffindor died and the sword was not returned, the goblins came all over pissed, because that, by their lights, was theft.

The wiki entry says "Gryffindor did not steal the sword from Ragnuk and that this belief is merely part of Griphook's goblin mistrust and prejudice against wizards." Rowling herself said "Griphook was wrong - Gryffindor did not 'steal' the sword, not unless you are a goblin fanatic and believe that all goblin-made objects really belong to the maker."

Which tells me that the writer herself could not wrap her brain around the idea that by goblin laws the goblins were right, and that, while the humans were right by their own laws, those laws were not the only ones involved in this case and not the only standard by which it should be judged. This despite having written the situation herself.

That, right there. That's how she could write the house elves the way she did and not think it was problematic.

Comments

[annotated_em]

*whistles* Wow. Major fail, right there.

[jetsam]

Bk7 fell to pieces in so many ways

I rather like the goblins, myself

[ysobel]

...whaaaat.

[flourish]

Yeah.

Sigh.

[afuna]

Oh. I'd been hoping that issues like these were some kind of subtle and clever commentary; it is pretty disappointing to find out that it's being played straight.

[bell]

...........That explains so much. Unfortunately. :[ Like how the house elves are basically still enslaved, and how Hogwarts remains mostly human, how Hagrid is never really/completely/truly accepted in the wizard community, etc. Despite the theme of "be more accepting!!!" 0rz

[mitsuhachi]

...this is why authorial intent as TEH WURD OF GAWD makes me break out in hives.

[kaigou]

Oi, the post is locked. May I quote you as the benevolent mind who enlightened me as to Rowling's total fail, or just reference the general content and let people live in mystery as to what brilliant soul carries blame for some of my madness?

[krait]

I. I just. Wot.

I can't even imagine how someone can create two sets of laws for two sets of creatures, and then not being ABLE to see them as equal.

I just. HOW?