Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (with spoilers)

[Wab]

Originally Posted by canismajoris

Hermione is most certainly not one of those characters, so "not specified" is the same as "white."

Not it's not. People often project their experiences when reading a book.

JKR is free to feel and desire to be seen as progressive, but she can't retroactively change her books.

She's not changing anything in the books.

[Sereena]

Here are some lines from the books:

"Hermione's white face was sticking out from behind a tree" (POA)

"Hermione gave an almost inaudible sniff. She had been exceptionally quiet all day. Having hurtled, white-faced, up to Harry outside the hospital wing and demanded to know what had happened" (HBP)

"But - but where? How? said Hermione, whose face was white" (HBP).

I interpret these as her being white since it's pretty odd to describe someone who has dark skin as being "white faced". Of course, it could just be that Rowling is using "white" as a metaphor for fear but I don't know.

I agree that unless something is specified about a character, one should assume the norm. For example, if a character isn't described as looking beautiful, one should assume the character is average-looking like most people are. In the UK, white people are the majority (to my knowledge) so an author would probably specify if a character is non-white (Rowling does this with several characters). Of course, this doesn't mean there isn't some wiggle room in how one interprets things.

[DigificWriter]

Originally Posted by canismajoris

JKR is free to feel and desire to be seen as progressive, but she can't retroactively change her books.

Actually, she can.

However, she's not actually changing anything when she states that "white skin was never specified" re: Hermione's character in Canon; she's simply making a statement of fact.

[Sereena]

Originally Posted by DigificWriter

Actually, she can.

However, she's not actually changing anything when she states that "white skin was never specified" re: Hermione's character in Canon; she's simply making a statement of fact.

Actually skin color is specified in the quotes above. She's described as white several times.

[Pensieve_Seeker]

Originally Posted by Sereena

Actually skin color is specified in the quotes above. She's described as white several times.

Hang on. So, you think that as JKR was writing each of those passages she thought to herself "This will be a good moment to let the reader know that she is Caucasian"?

[Sereena]

No, she might not have done it on purpose but she certainly describes Hermione as white. It's no different than writing about Snape's "pale face", for example. The point isn't to establish "race", rather it depends on the context. Besides, I'm not sure what your point is. Rowling is just describing how someone looks at a certain moment, she does that with many other characters.

[snapes_witch]

Originally Posted by DigificWriter

Actually, she can.

Yes an author can, but it's a very bad idea since it makes a mess of continuity.

[canismajoris]

Originally Posted by DigificWriter

Actually, she can.

When will new book(s) be published?

[snapes_witch]

Originally Posted by canismajoris

When will new book(s) be published?

There are no new books.

[canismajoris]

Originally Posted by snapes_witch

There are no new books.

Then I think that settles the matter of an author adding new material to existing works.

[snapes_witch]

Originally Posted by canismajoris

Then I think that settles the matter of an author adding new material to existing works.

No new books: HP and the Cursed Child is a stage play and Fantastic Beasts is a future movie trilogy. JKR has announced that they are canon because she's involved in writing them. So new info.

[DigificWriter]

Originally Posted by snapes_witch

Yes an author can, but it's a very bad idea since it makes a mess of continuity.

No, it doesn't.

And, anyway, JKR has already retroactively changed her own works. See Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 9 ("Draco had a look on his face similar to the time Hermione had punched him.")

[snapes_witch]

Originally Posted by DigificWriter

No, it doesn't.

And, anyway, JKR has already retroactively changed her own works. See Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 9 ("Draco had a look on his face similar to the time Hermione had punched him.")

Movie contamination!

[DigificWriter]

^ No; it's JKR using her authorial discretion to retroactively Canonize Alfonso Cuaron and Steve Kloves' artistic interpretation of what she had originally written because she liked and approved of it.

[snapes_witch]

Originally Posted by DigificWriter

^ No; it's JKR using her authorial discretion to retroactively Canonize Alfonso Cuaron and Steve Kloves' artistic interpretation of what she had originally written because she liked and approved of it.

You've won the internet!

[Liselle]

I've tickets for next december and I'm really excited about it. Everything I've heard just whets my appetite for more Potter-ness a little more.....

I agree, the whole kerfuffle about skin colour is a storm in a tea cup. We all have assumptions - and that's fine, but honestly the uproar about a non white Hermione is ridiculous. I have fallen into the trap of assuming that the trio were all white so I was intrigued at the casting but it didn't go beyond that, the whole thing of books is they're open to interpretation and enjoyment and we shouldn't get so carried away with being overly concerned with figuring what race any of the characters is. Personally, I just don't think it matters if they're green or purple or any other colour under the sun.

[HMN]

Originally Posted by Sereena

Here are some lines from the books:

"Hermione's white face was sticking out from behind a tree" (POA)

"Hermione gave an almost inaudible sniff. She had been exceptionally quiet all day. Having hurtled, white-faced, up to Harry outside the hospital wing and demanded to know what had happened" (HBP)

"But - but where? How? said Hermione, whose face was white" (HBP).

I interpret these as her being white since it's pretty odd to describe someone who has dark skin as being "white faced". Of course, it could just be that Rowling is using "white" as a metaphor for fear but I don't know.

I agree that unless something is specified about a character, one should assume the norm. For example, if a character isn't described as looking beautiful, one should assume the character is average-looking like most people are. In the UK, white people are the majority (to my knowledge) so an author would probably specify if a character is non-white (Rowling does this with several characters). Of course, this doesn't mean there isn't some wiggle room in how one interprets things.

I always assumed Hermione was not a person of color, because, as you said she's not specifically stated as such. However the quotes above, describe her as a metaphor for fear. As in the blood drained out of her face leaving her pale or 'white as a ghost'. Even people of color turn pale when ill or frightened.

When I first heard the news I was stumped. And then I realized I had my own bias because I am white, I assumed Hermione was too. And you know what, having her be non-white is great. I think JKR was approached with the idea, realized that she should have had more diversity in her magic school and course corrected for the play.

I get to see the play this summer. I'm so excited. I hope the story is great. I will be a bit crushed if it's not!

[Anhelda]

Just read an article that the script of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will be published, so it will be a new book of sorts.

http://www.eonline.com/news/738729/w...s-a-tiny-catch

[MrSleepyHead]

Great news. I was hoping they would make the script available worldwide to accommodate those fans unable to travel to London (or wherever else they may take the play). It will also be nice to read the script free from the actors' influence, regardless of whether you get to see the play. It will be interesting to read "the eighth Harry Potter book" in script form, though!

[xhanax315]

I have mixed feelings about all this news. Are we sure we should be calling it an 8th Harry Potter book? It seems to me like we're stretching the truth here.