As much as I love Hermione and Ginny, I'd have to say that Luna is my favorite of the female Hogwarts students. So off-beat and contented despite the odd glances she always fetches, she's a marvelous character shimmering with ethereality yet possessing an uncanny ability to cut to the heart of matters, as when she immediately recognizes Harry at the wedding despite his completely altered outward appearance. Re-reading the last couple of books and observing Hermione's demeanor at the Lovegood home, I was forcefully reminded of LOST's man of science / man of faith debate. Both perspectives are needed, but stepping into Luna's way of viewing the world is especially refreshing.
Luna
Luna, like your father, glowing
In your lucky yellow robes,
You're a sight despite foregoing
Plums to dangle from your lobes.
Turn and greet the kind companions
You have painted on your wall.
Think of them when faced with canyons
Of despair, and you won't fall.
They will think of you here dancing,
Blissful as a summer breeze
Though the enemy's advancing
Like the autumn through the trees.
Long before Gernumblies bit you,
You were gifted, artful one.
Blessed inspiration's lit you,
Soft as moonlight, bright as sun.
Daughter of the misty twilight,
Fair and graceful to behold,
You're a treasure. No mere pyrite,
Luna Lovegood, you are gold.
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4 comments:
Lovely, Erin! There are so many wonderful Luna moments in DH -- I think Rowling is very fond of her character too. I loved how she danced alone at the wedding; the paintings of her friends on the wall of her room; the way she planted the flowers around Dobby's grave; and right at the end, the way she understood Harry's need to slip off and distracted people so he could. I think Luna has always understood Harry better than most people!
There definitely seems to be an empathetic bond between them. I was really happy with how much Luna we got. And it was fun to meet her dad, though that wound up going rather awry... I think the bit with the Gernumblies is one of the funniest parts of the whole book though!
Yes, I wasn't sure what I thought about Xeno the first time through. Although one can completely understand his fears for his one and only child, and how that might drive you to do something (even something not very noble) like turn in someone else.
Janet Batchler has some great reflections up on the theme of family in DH, over at www.quoththemaven.blogspot.com Well worth reading, and she comments on Xeno and Luna as she discusses the theme.
Aye, I've been reading and really enjoying them! :) Actually, reading the first part of her reflection, where she hadn't yet mentioned the Malfoys, was what got me really thinking about how they played into the final conflict and led me to write my poem about them.
I really liked Xeno at first, and then I wasn't so crazy about him. But yeah, a really awful position to be in. It was Michael Dawson all over again (and, incidentally, I hear he's slated to be a regular character again in LOST's fourth season, so maybe he can redeem himself a bit)...
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