Episode #11: A Little Hagrid
Who doesn’t love Hagrid (besides Penny)? Only those that are unable to see the beauty that lies beneath his gruff exterior. And that’s kind of the point. Tune in as we dissect Harry’s hairiest friend to uncover just what his role in the Potterverse is, was, and will be.
And in the news:
- Potter under fire in Georgia. Hopefully everyone down there is reasonable.
- Potter Publisher Share Price Plummets. Perfect Opportunity to Pick-up a Position.
- Radcliffe thinks Potter Must Die. I think he just wants to ensure seven movies is all he’ll have to do.
Blog post of the week: A Blog Around the Clock points to a Canadian medical journal article on the ethics of magical healing.
You can listen to the podcast by using the player below, or download an mp3.
December 14th, 2006 at 1:07 pm
Penny! How can you not love Hagrid?
My wife and I are huge fans of the big lughead. I see Hagrid as that guy you’ve run across in real life. He means well but just can’t get it together. On the flip side… when you need help the most he’s right there by your side to defend you.
I too was a bit turned off by the whole Grawp side story in OotP, but JKR must have something planned in the final installment that includes Grawp. I’m hoping for a knock-down-drag-out battle between the Order and Deatheaters. Something on a grand scale.
I’m not so sure who’s going to die in the last book, I’d imagine Harry is one, but I think Hagrid will move on. The Weasley’s have such a big presence in the Order one of them is probably in danger, as well as Mad Eye, and Lupin. I think there’s a big chance Ron or Hermione could go as well.
Hopefully, Ron and Hermione will fall in love and live happily ever after!
Regardless, it’s going to be a very tough read I suspect for more than the possible death scenarios.
December 14th, 2006 at 2:32 pm
I feel bad that I don’t like Hagrid (honestly I do) because I really usually like the underdog character (see our discussion on Neville) but Hagrid just rubs me the wrong way.
As far as who will die in the last book (hmm, i think this might be a future blog post for us but I will speculate anyway). As I mentioned in past podcasts, I am fairly certain that either Draco or Snape will die and right before that happens whichever one it is will help Harry immesurably. I think it is fair to say that one of the Weasley’s will die as well. Think about it- there are 9 of them (10 if you count fleur)- the odds aren’t too great in their favor that they’ll all make it out alive. I am betting on Arthur, Charlie or Percy. OK, I am stopping here. I don’t want to spoil a future podcast.
December 14th, 2006 at 3:58 pm
Ohhhh, Snape yes, he should die. You never know which way Ms. Rowling will lean do you? Snape is the X factor IMHO.
Now I gotta go listen to HPPROGS Podcast #2.
December 14th, 2006 at 4:10 pm
Muwahhh. It is all part of my evil plan! *laughs sinsisterly*!
December 14th, 2006 at 10:57 pm
Hi, guys! I subscribed to your podcast on iTunes but couldn’t find Episodes 2 and 3 there. I also can”t find the direct download link here. Help?
Thanks. 
December 15th, 2006 at 8:56 am
yvaine: Thanks for the heads up; I’ve updated our podcast feed to include all the episodes, so if you refresh your iTunes, you should get all of them. I’ve also updated the earlier blog posts that did not contain direct download links. Hope this helps!
December 16th, 2006 at 12:24 am
Thanks for the prompt reply, Greg! Off to download! I’m really enjoying the podcasts and the prognostications. More power (and magic) to you guys. =)
December 19th, 2006 at 9:36 pm
Penny, I can understand not liking Hagrid - he can be kind of annoying! I do (mostly) like the character myself, but I think I can understand where you’re coming from.
Although it may not even be intentional on JKR’s part, I can’t help seeing Hagrid as representing a working-class stereotype (with agrarian overtones), with predictable results.
Think about it: he’s brawny and earns his living by largely manual labor, and works mostly outdoors and with animals (the teaching part came later, and is still linked to physical labor), he lives in a rustic setting, he has a peculiar accent, he’s not very intellectual, he didn’t finish school, he has relatives even more “uncivilized” than he is - when you add it up on a symbolic level, he seems pretty “lower class”. And the reactions to him are predicatable given the orientation of these books: the “good guys” embrace Hagrid and judge him on his own merits, the “bad guys” are snotty elitists who look down on him.
This also fits in with Sirius’s comment about how if you want to know what someone’s like, look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals. Although it may seem odd to think of Hagrid as an “inferior”, if you you look at the elitist attitudes about “wizarding blood” and the class stereotypes I mentioned, he is.
JKR supposedly named her first daughter after her heroine, Jessica Mitford - a socialist. I can’t help but think there’s a link between the real-world attitudes of the author and what comes through symbolically in the books - even if it’s not even conscious on the author’s part.
Oh, and by the way - I tend to think Hagrid will die. Not sure why, but I’ve always been expecting it, from the first book.
June 19th, 2007 at 2:24 pm
I like Hagid. He’s cool. I know that sounds weird, but thats how I think. I’m just not sure what’ll happen to him in the 7th book.
June 19th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
Hmmmmmmmmmmm.
January 13th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
I like Hagrid. He’s just a nice, fun, big, caring, loyal, lovable guy. I don’t think he’s quite teacher material (he doesn’t seem to grasp that “safety first” concept), but you can’t say his lessons are boring! He has made some mistakes, (who hasn’t!?) but he tries to move on and help anyone- or anything- he can. Hagrid means well.
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