Adult Romance And Sex Don’t Belong In Harry Potter Books
Posted by: Carrie Wasterlain
Filed in:
entertainment
9:00AM, Thursday July 23rd 2009
Alyssa Rosenberg of The Atlantic recently ranted about overly idealized relationships and a lack of intimate adult sex scenes in the Harry Potter series, accusing J.K. Rowling of being “really awful at writing about adult sexual and romantic relationships.” Her first complaint is that everyone in the books ends up with their first love, avoiding the hardships and dating cycles those of us in real life are forced to endure. She then complains that Rowling doesn’t give readers enough intimate details involving adult sexual relationships—the Weasleys are too preoccupied with their children, the Potters’ relationship is too idealized, Lupin isn’t sexual enough, and a description of Fleur Delacour’s married life is lacking. She finishes her critique by noting that Hogwarts is lacking a sex ed course.
And what Rosenberg is obviously lacking is the ability to see Harry Potter for what it is: A story about young wizards! I mean, sex ed at Hogwarts? Who cares! The story isn’t about pregnancy prevention. It’s about magic-filled adventure! It’s not a commentary on the struggles relationships bring, and it’s not meant to offer a view into the sexual intimacies of adults. I mean, hello—this was a book initially targeted at kids. Adults only started reading it because it was so darn brilliant! Rowling has created a story so exciting it doesn’t need to be layered with complex love stories (thank god). I mean, would we really want to read about the details of a married wizard couple’s love life when we can experience a battle scene with Voldemort? I think not.
And, by the way, love and relationships do factor into the Harry Potter plot: Harry, Ron, and Hermione each have their own adolescent crushes to deal with. I would argue that Rowling incorporates the perfect amount of awkward teenage love and sexuality in her story line. However, I really couldn’t care less about Lupin’s dwindling libido.
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tabby
wrote on July 23 2009 @ 08:36 am: [report]
The librarian in me wants to reiterate that these are Children’s Books and are shelved in the library as such. How many kids books do you know of that have sex scenes or complicated dating lives? Oh wait, none. And also, as Children’s Literature, it makes sense to have all the characters end up neatly with the bad being punished and the good living happily ever after.
However, as a reader, I hated the last chapter of the last book for giving the epilogue and making it so cutesy and trite. I think it runs counterintuitive to Children’s Literature to skip over each character’s graduation into the real world and make them middle aged. Kids want the end to be open so they can fill in the lives of the characters from their own imaginations. And I wanted that too! So I just pretend that the last chapter never happened.
aminata
wrote on July 23 2009 @ 08:37 am: [report]
Yikes. Alyssa is reading too deeply into Harry Potter. I’m going to turn the tables and read into Alyssa’s rant. What I’m seeing is homegirl needs to get some romance and then get laid. When one needs intricate romantic relationships and adult sex, turn to a man(or woman depending on preference), not a children’s novel.
_jsw_
wrote on July 23 2009 @ 08:47 am: [report]
I have to agree with Ms. Rosenberg: there just isn’t enough adult sex in children’s books. I’m always annoyed, when reading Charlotte’s Web to my girls, that there’s no scene where Charlotte gets it on and then eats her mate, and the Arable’s sex life - as well as those of the animals in the barn - is completely ignored. In fact, there isn’t a single children’s book I’ve read which even begins to discuss erect penises, anal sex, fetishes, or the like. I mean, thank God for Judy Blume, who at least starts to mention some things, but children, being children, need pictures, and even Blume doesn’t go that far, nor are her books exactly like a manual for sexual positions or anything.
I think we needed Dr. Seuss to write something like “The C**k in the Jimmy Hat” to get the trend started, but it’s too late for that. Now, all the kids books tend to have happy endings and cute little “messages” about life.
Where, oh where, are the children’s books discussing getting your heart broken after being sexually assaulted and left with a pregnancy and several STDs? I’m sure my girls would just love those.
tabby
wrote on July 23 2009 @ 08:49 am: [report]
@_jsw_, You Rock
_jsw_
wrote on July 23 2009 @ 09:00 am: [report]
@tabby: Thanks.
I actually fail to rock in many ways, but I’m glad the occasional comment turns out well.
CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on July 23 2009 @ 09:02 am: [report]
I totally missed all the sex in Animal Farm. Guess it’s time for a re-read.
*sam*
wrote on July 23 2009 @ 09:19 am: [report]
@cheeeeese: omg how could you miss it!?!?! there was like, a HUGE barn animal orgy after they overthrew the farm!!! while the horse was inside staring at herself in the mirror (this one was a little hard to catch, but she was *totes* masturbating to her own image—vain little bitch) all of the other animals were getting it on with each other in the barn… complete with champagne and party hats
Queen Frostine
wrote on July 23 2009 @ 09:24 am: [report]
Alyssa Rosenberg meet Fan Fiction. I think you’ll find what you’ve been missing there and then some.
avalari
wrote on July 23 2009 @ 10:17 am: [report]
@Tabby; I think the cutesy ending is kind of lame too, but I’m happy she did it. This way, they can’t take the series after the last movie is made (and they realize the cash cow is out of milk) and come up with thier own new stories and ruin the entire thing just to make a buck. Very clever on her part, I think.
Therese
wrote on July 23 2009 @ 10:41 am: [report]
What about that ‘contracepto’ spell they learned in Goblet of Fire? Kidding.
juliePS
wrote on July 23 2009 @ 11:44 am: [report]
See, I liked the awkward handling of sex (or lack thereof) in Harry Potter books because it reminded me a hell of a lot of my own teenagerhood, haha.
writergirl
wrote on July 23 2009 @ 01:49 pm: [report]
Actually…Rowling leaves the sex up to the imagination of the reader.
There’s a scene in book six where Harry thinks about the “pleasant hour” he spent with Ginny by the secluded banks of the lake.
Did they have sex…..? Depends on how you, the reader interpret the term, pleasant hour.
Its called ‘using your imagination’, A.R.
writergirl
wrote on July 23 2009 @ 01:51 pm: [report]
And that entire last sentence was supposed to have been deleted.
schwenmn
wrote on July 23 2009 @ 04:32 pm: [report]
If Allison wants to read about sex, I’m sure the people at Barnes and Nobles can direct her to the appropriate section. There she can sit in a comfy chair and enjoy the books, instead of at the tiny tables in the childrens’ section enjoying the disturbed stares from the parents.
_jsw_
wrote on July 23 2009 @ 04:49 pm: [report]
@schwenmn: I haven’t been around much today, but so far, yours is my favorite comment. :D
Kesseire
wrote on July 23 2009 @ 04:50 pm: [report]
Some people -do- end up with their first loves. And almost everyone I knew in high school believed at the time that their boyfriend/girlfriend was their One True Love.
That’s part of the heady romance of first relationships.
If (or when) that ends up not being the case, and they break up and go their separate ways, then maybe they’ll go through an end-of-innocence crisis or a personal reevaluation. Or maybe not.
But I don’t see anything wrong with carrying along the “pure romance” ideal. Can’t we let kids at least aspire to a One and Only Happily Ever After?
I don’t see any need to make them jaded and cynical before they’re even out of the gate.
Symian
wrote on July 25 2009 @ 02:25 am: [report]
I was under the impression that Harry Potter was a series for young adults. I’m not sure though because I’m a grown-up and I read grown-up literature like Mad Magazine. Following the lives of young wizards just isn’t my thing.
It’s high time we put an NC-17 label on this series to keep the prying eyes of little ones from discovering what dark secrets lurk between the covers of these lecherous tomes of wizardry.
What? Harry Potter isn’t about stirring a “cauldron” with a magic “wand”?? Oh, ok then, it’s fine.