Interesting thought! I'm just not sure I agree. While writing this I was just struck over and over again by how many parallels there were to other, more sinister moments. Practically the only thing the epilogue reveals besides who married whom and what they're children are called is that 1) James is a jokester who likes to tease, not necessarily kindly, 2) Slytherin is still in disfavor, 3) no one should fraternize with Malfoys, 4) Oh sure there was one good Slytherin but since you don't want to be in Slytherin anyway choose not to be just like your dear old dad. I suppose you can read all the dialogue and things that get communicated in the epilogue as frothy and pointless, but once you go so far as to assume there IS a point, something slightly sinister takes shape around the edges of the sweet nice picture.
I'm also not sure I agree that in epic fantasy the results should be concrete and irrevocable. The reason I like fantasy is it's just another way to look at real life; as someone who is better at dealing in the theoretical than in reality, it's very helpful to me. So if fantasy says something that is true in real life, such as no victories are certain, wars are never won, and we must always be fighting to make the world what we want it to be--then I'm grateful for the insights.
I'm rambling too, sorry! I rather liked the epilogue, but I understand why you didn't like it. I'm quite chuffed that you liked my take on it, anyway!
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Interesting thought! I'm just not sure I agree. While writing this I was just struck over and over again by how many parallels there were to other, more sinister moments. Practically the only thing the epilogue reveals besides who married whom and what they're children are called is that 1) James is a jokester who likes to tease, not necessarily kindly, 2) Slytherin is still in disfavor, 3) no one should fraternize with Malfoys, 4) Oh sure there was one good Slytherin but since you don't want to be in Slytherin anyway choose not to be just like your dear old dad. I suppose you can read all the dialogue and things that get communicated in the epilogue as frothy and pointless, but once you go so far as to assume there IS a point, something slightly sinister takes shape around the edges of the sweet nice picture.
I'm also not sure I agree that in epic fantasy the results should be concrete and irrevocable. The reason I like fantasy is it's just another way to look at real life; as someone who is better at dealing in the theoretical than in reality, it's very helpful to me. So if fantasy says something that is true in real life, such as no victories are certain, wars are never won, and we must always be fighting to make the world what we want it to be--then I'm grateful for the insights.
I'm rambling too, sorry! I rather liked the epilogue, but I understand why you didn't like it. I'm quite chuffed that you liked my take on it, anyway!