Melodrama in Harry Potter

Using the assigned article as a reference as well as the discussion on melodrama that took place in class, I found excerpts from Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix that I believe contain melodramatic elements. The way I understand it, a melodrama most often pertains to an exaggerated, emotional struggle between heros and villains, white hats and black hats - good and evil. The hero may not necessarily be well-understood or fortunate, but he or she is noble and resolute in his or her efforts to overcome the oppressive villain.


“She is your teacher and has every right to give you detention. You will go to her room at five
o’clock tomorrow for the first one. Just remember: tread carefully around Dolores Umbridge.”
“But I was telling the truth!” said Harry, outraged. “Voldemort is back, you know he is;
Professor Dumbledore knows he is -”
“For heaven’s sake, Potter!” said Professor McGonagall, straightening her glasses angrily (she
had winced horribly when he had used Voldemort’s name). “Do you really think this is about
truth or lies? It’s about keeping your head down and your temper under control!


I found this passage to be melodramatic because it highlights Harry's character as an oppressed, victim hero and demonstrates the characters' exaggerated feelings. Harry is unjustifiably silenced by the administration (primarily Professor Umbridge), which represents the authoritarian villain.  Harry finds the idea of being punished for telling the truth to be unfair and reacts angrily, shouting, "But I was telling the truth!". Professor McGonagall reacts with the same level of exaggerated feeling, retorting "For heaven's sake, Potter!". In my re-write, I made this scene much less emotional and masked Harry's  outrage at being a victim.

Re-write:


“She is your teacher and can give you detention if she wishes. You will go to her room at five
o’clock tomorrow for the first one. Just remember to be careful around Ms. Umbridge.”
“I was telling the truth, you know.” said Harry. “Voldemort is back.”
“Listen, Potter.” said Professor McGonagall, straightening her glasses (she
had winced when he had used Voldemort’s name). “This isn't about truth or lies. It’s about keeping your head down and your temper under control."



MINISTRY SEEKS EDUCATIONAL REFORM
DOLORES UMBRIDGE APPOINTED
FIRST EVER HIGH INQUISITOR


“She’s been a WHAT?” said Harry loudly.


Hermione finished reading and looked across the table at the other two.

“So now we know how we ended up with Umbridge! Fudge passed this Decree and forced her
on us! And now he’s given her the power to inspect the other teachers!” Hermione was breathing
fast and her eyes were very bright. “I can’t believe this. It’s outrageous!”

“I know it is,” said Harry. He looked down at his right hand, clenched on the table-top, and saw
the faint white outline of the words Umbridge had forced him to cut into his skin.

This passage is also quite melodramatic from my perspective as Hermoine, now also assuming the role of a victim hero, is outraged by the "evil" Professor Umbridge's new "power" as High Inquisitor.

Re-write:



MINISTRY SEEKS EDUCATIONAL REFORM
DOLORES UMBRIDGE APPOINTED
FIRST EVER HIGH INQUISITOR



“She's been appointed to High Inquisitor?” said Harry.


Hermione finished reading and looked across the table at the other two.

“So now we know how we ended up with Umbridge. Fudge passed this Decree to make her our teacher, and now he’s given her the job of inspecting the other teachers.” Hermione's eyes were bright. “I can’t believe this. It's upsetting.”

“I know it is,” said Harry. He looked down at his right hand and saw the faint white outline of the words Umbridge had forced him to cut into his skin.