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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.

Now I gotta go listen to HPPROGS Podcast #2.

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.

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.