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| Yes | 60% | 606 votes | Total: 1017 votes | |
| No | 40% | 411 votes |
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Add to FavoritesIn a book series so rich in detail, so full of complex emotions, integral plots, intense relationships and wonderful characterizations one would think there would have been enough romance in the Harry Potter saga and yet there seemed to be something lacking. There were instances when it appeared there were too many characters without partners. This might not seem strange to children reading the Harry Potter books, after all, the focus was rightfully on Harry and his younger audience. But to this adult reader there were entirely too many adult characters who seemed, for lack of a better word, non-sexual. Perhaps it is only my perception because of my being an unabashed purveyor of romance but I must say there wasn't enough romance in the Harry Potter saga.
Let us start at the top. Albus Dumbledore was practically royalty in the wizarding world and yet no fawning women clawed at his robes, no flirting witches sought his admiration, no veela batted their eyelashes at him. How likely was that? Even less-than-gorgeous princes get more action when single, young studs so, why didn't Dumbledore? Ah, but we know why now with his "outing". But could it be gay-bashing was also prevalent in the wizarding world just as werewolves and Squibs were shunned and ridiculed? Most likely.
My theory is Dumbledore had an amorous admirer in his Dragon-poxed friend and obituary writer, Elphias Doge. They were to set off on a trip around the world after Hogwarts but when that didn't happen and they fell out of touch Dumbledore hooked up with Grindlewald. There was something of romance there but we weren't privy to it. Alas with a broken heart, perhaps Dumbledore never sought another lover.
Hagrid became romantically involved with Madam Maxime but that was doomed to failure. She was headmistress of Beaubaton in France and he would never leave Hogwarts even for love. Pity. They would have had beautiful albeit huge children.
Minerva McGonagall reminded me of the stern nuns teaching at Catholic school, too chaste and virginal to succumb to anything so foolish as romantic love. Or maybe she had the misfortune to be in love with Dumbledore. Either way we didn't get to see that.
Harry thought Madam Pince, the librarian, and Filch, the caretaker might have had a 'thing' going on. But all the other teachers seemed entirely too consumed with their jobs for anything as silly as love and marriage. Again, plenty of room for romance.
Molly Weasley gave a hint of her midnight extra-curricular activities with her then boyfriend Arthur. The little sneak! It amused and surprised Bill, her eldest son but it served to show that even stern parents had been foolish kids ruled by hormones once upon a time. A good lesson for both kids, who see their parents as being only ever grown up and responsible adults, and adults who may have forgotten what it's like to be a kid.
While it may have been painful for Harry it was also good for him to see his parents sniping at each other as teenagers, rather a bit like Ron and Hermione. We don't all start out as perfect little adults who always know what to do. Harry learned that the hard way when he saw his father torturing Snape.
And then there's Severus Snape. No wonder he was so bitter. The love of his life Lily Evans snatched away from him through his own folly. And then to have to endure the presence of her child, Harry, the child that might have been his but instead was fathered by his nemesis, the spoiled and arrogant James Potter. Snape's heart must have ached something fierce to never be able to love again.
The real shocker was Sirius Black. He was drop-dead gorgeous yet never had a girlfriend? Yes, he hung posters of bikini clad muggle girls on his bedroom walls as a teenager at #12 Grimould Place but that was probably just to vex his parents. Perhaps he was too involved with the Order of the Phoenix to care about romance and then there wasn't much chance of it during nor after his stint in Azkaban. Too bad. He would have made some lucky witch a wonderful husband.
Tonks and Remus got together and had a child. Bill and Fleur got married. Percy had Penelope Clearwater, Ron and Hermione got together in the end after the bouts with jealousy were done with and Harry finally got Ginny. There was plenty of romantic involvement some say. But was it enough? Really, is there ever enough love in the world, even the wizarding world? Dumbledore didn't think so and I'd have to agree with him.
Learn more about this author, Glory Lennon.
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No
JK Rowling came out with an unforgettable series that had (and still have) adults reading them, teens reading them, and even children reading them. They were interesting and exciting enough to have everyone excited about them. They provided plenty of action, interest, and characters to love. They attracted girls, boys, men, and women alike. Should JK Rowling have allowed the characters in the Harry Potter's series to become more romantically involved?
With a story that appealed to so many, she probably could have gotten away with anything, however she threw in the perfect amount of romance and didn't go overboard with it at all. While many wished and hoped that she would indeed let the characters get more involved, it was a good thing that they didn't. This allowed the series to appeal to all people, it let it stay innocent and hopeful, and it didn't cause any conflicts with the plot or even the ending.
Mass Appeal.
It isn't easy to write a story that appeals to younger children, older children, and adults a like, not to mention appealing to men, women, boys, and girls. To do this you have to maintain a perfect balance of action, lovable characters, romance, and depth. If you stray too far into one or the other you will loose a great deal of interest from one group of people, or more then one group of people. While many wanted the characters to be more romantically involved this would take away some of the mass appeal of the stories. Additionally, these stories are read in many different cultures. Some of these cultures are used to a great deal of teen romance, while others are not. Having just a little bit of teen romance provides depth to the characters, as well as interest for the readers, but it doesn't cross the line of inappropriate behavior or questionable morals. It appeals to the young, the old, the males, the females, and people from several different cultures.
Innocence and Hope.
There is something to be said about innocence. Sadly most books don't hold to that truth. Many stories jump into romance and sex, after all they sell. Jk Rowling kept her stories innocent. Her characters remained innocent, hopeful, and true. They faced a great deal of excitement, danger, and evil, but still held on to that innocence. They also allow the reader to remain innocent, no matter how young or how old. On the other hand, we hope that certain characters will get together with other characters. We hope for a happy ending that will share love and romance with the reader.
Conflict Free.
While there was a great deal of conflict within the Harry Potter series, none of it had anything to do with conflict of plot, characters, or endings. The stories progressed in a magical way, sharing the defeat, the triumph, the love, the growth of the characters without straying far from the point. Additional romance would have added conflict for the characters and who they were (are). It would have changed some of the points the plot made, and would have taken us from a conflict free plot, into something darker.
In addition to these things, we must remember that there are people of so many ages reading this book. This lets them keep reading these books. While Harry Potter's books often sparked questions of whether or not kids of all ages should be reading them, there was nothing in them to say that they shouldn't. They sparked a love of story, a love of reading, and they got children and teens (and adults) who never pick up a book, to do so. They continue to do that as they charm people and excite them. JK Rowling did a perfect job creating a masterpiece that won't soon be forgotten and nothing about that should have been changed or should be changed.
Learn more about this author, Danelle Karth.
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