jillianlaw

I usually don’t have a problem with the Strong Female Character trope, but I do think there needs to be more range. We can have Black Widow and Charlie Theron in Atomic Blonde, but we also need female characters who are on all ranges of the spectrum. We need female characters who are strong, who make mistakes, who are gentle, etc. We can’t just have one type of Strong Female Characters. We need to show all the kind of strength women are capable of.

Interesting analysis of Harry’s antagonists throughout the series. I particularly agree with your points about Umbridge. (Her name is spelled Dolores, not Delores, by the way.) However, I have to disagree with Dudley Dursley being Harry’s worst antagonist out of the three Dursleys. Yes, Dudley is Harry’s age and represents the bully we all had in elementary school. However, he does not have nearly as much power or control over Harry’s life as his parents do.

Until Harry is 11, the Dursleys control every aspect of Harry’s life. They emotionally and physically abuse him, and their abuse has a much more profound effect on his life than any of the bruises Dudley leaves on him from Harry Hunting. They also keep vital information about Harry’s background and family from him. Furthermore, Dudley Durlsey eventually realize the error of his ways. He evolves past being an antagonist. Vernon and Petunia Dursley never become anything else. Harry also never defeats them. Every summer, he has to go back to their house and be subjected to their rules, their disdain, and their hate. He never wins against them, not fully; he only gets to escape.

There are frequent YA literature clichés, but I think the problem of whether or not YA fiction appeals to adults depends on how we are classifying YA fiction. Young adult fiction is a huge umbrella for several different genres: romance chicklit, realistic fiction, supernatural, fantasy, dystopia, science fiction, etc. The tropes you mention are tropes of specific YA genres. I also think the frustrations many people have with YA fiction exists within certain genres of it.