[littlepooh]

I believe Tonks is a character that most people like and some even love. She's very endearing with her clumsiness, her sense of humor and her Metamorphmagus abilities.

But what is her purpose in the larger scale of the story. She didn't have much to do in OotP but that doesn't mean much. We know JKR has plans for her the quetion is what.

Is her Metamorphmagus ability(that she was born with) a foreshadowing perhaps. Maybe there is another character that was born with an ability that we haven't seen yet. Like Harry and those green eyes!

Will we see her parents. From the confersation about folding socks that she had with Harry it sounds like her mother is still alive. Why isn't she a member of the order?

She also seems kinda young to be a Auror. How did that all come about?

Will she fall for Remus? I highly doubt this. I think people pair her with Remus simply because there is no other cannon character to pair him off with.

Will she and Harry become closer now that Sirius is gone?

She's a very intriging character. But there are lots of question.

Any thoughts?

[Splatt]

Good topic Littlepooh!

I've actually seen a Tonks-backlash lately on some boards, where she is not very popular at all as a character - no-one seems to be interested in the nuances that you have listed above, all of which make her very interesting to me.

Some say she is a stereo-typical fictitious character (whatEVER that means), others accused JK of creating a Mary Sue - now Ada explained what a Mary Sue was to me, and I can't see it myself ....

My thoughts, in addition to those Littlepooh has raised, are these:

1. Has Tonks already been in previous books with a different 'appearance'? I mean, her look as an elderly lady (was it when they were going back to the station after Christmas?) was so obviously a total transformation, not just a change of nose or hair colour ... has JK used this already somewhere, OR will she do so in future? We must keep our eyes peeled throughout Book 6!

2. I believe Tonks said that Metamorphmagi are rare ... I'm pleased about this, because so are Animagi, but people seem to assume, especially in fan fics, and even when talking about canon and trying to predict these, that EVERYone has an Animagi form - it's meant to be incredibly difficult, there won't be THAT many unregistered 'running around', and if only 7 were registered in the last 100 years, that also supports its rarity.

3. What are the implications for Harry?

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Maybe there is another character that was born with an ability that we haven't seen yet. Like Harry and those green eyes!

Some say the fact that Harry's hair grew back every time it was cut wasn't just a sign of unfocused but wandless magic, but that he may have Metamorphmagus tendancies ... hmmmm ......

[Sylven]

Not that I think what you've posted isn't interesting, but does Tonks have to have a significance? Can't she just be a fun new character? I mean, there's just not room in these books to introduce us to everyone in the wizarding world, but it seems like she tries to give us a handful of new people every book.

Though, to completely contradict myself, there were characters I thought had no significance, then turned out to be highly signifcant. Prime examples being Cornelius Fudge, Arabella Figg, and Mundungus Fletcher.

I think if there's going to be a Tonks/Lupin thing (which would be cute, but isn't she a bit younger than him?) it'll only be hinted at or dealt with in a cute way in one or two sentences. Y'know, just an "oh, by the way" type of thing.

[Splatt]

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but does Tonks have to have a significance? Can't she just be a fun new character?

Well, personally, I think yes, she does have to have some significance ... because JK doesn't introduce people or characters for no reason, as we have all found out through the five wonderful books we've already enjoyed ... and certainly not when she gives us so much 'time' with them.

I agree with Sylven, as pointed out above, that what appear to be minor roles often have later significance, Figg, Fudge, Black, Fletcher, Chang, Diggory (the latter two mentioned briefly in PoA, grew to greater significance in GoF and we all know what happened in OotP!) Even Buckbeak, Dobby and Winky made fresh later appearances, and I've read somewhere we may see Aragog again!!!! :eek

And I also agree with Sylven in that:

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there's just not room in these books to introduce us to everyone in the wizarding world, but it seems like she tries to give us a handful of new people every book.

She can't introduce us to everyone in the wizarding world, it's true there isn't room for it, and she does give us a handful of new people in each book, but I still feel - if they haven't already fulfilled their purpose - they will crop up later - eg I'm certain we haven't seen the last of Ludo Bagman, or indeed Umbridge or Fleur and Viktor.

I just don't see any evidence to date that JK introduces us to people/things of no further significance somewhere in the story, take Susan Bones for example, and even more so, the fact that we (through Harry) don't even know ALL the names of his fellow Gryffindors - because they aren't going to be relevant.

The pattern I have noticed more is that if someone needs to be acknowledged as existing, but not that they will have a major role to play, we don't 'meet' them in detail (or rather, Harry doesn't) ... someone once asked JK, for example, in a chat about whether we'd find out more about Hermione's parents, and JK's response - which I can't recall in full - indicated that we would find out very little more, because it had no relevance to the storyline.

I think what I mean is that, in my own personal opinion, Tonks was given too much 'screen time' to be 'just a fun new character' ... and as JK herself bemoans the fact that there is so much in this story to get down on paper, I don't think she'd include anything or anyone that didn't have to be there, in this amount of detail.

Your thoughts?

[littlepooh]

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just don't see any evidence to date that JK introduces us to people/things of no further significance somewhere in the story, take Susan Bones for example, and even more so, the fact that we (through Harry) don't even know ALL the names of his fellow Gryffindors - because they aren't going to be relevant.

I started to get the feeling in OOtp that she was talking about the students more because some of them are either gonna die or lose family members. For example Hannah Abbott comes to mind . It seemed like her name kept popping up alot.

[Lady_Hufflepuff]

Splatt, on Mar 11 2004, 05:18 AM, said:

others accused JK of creating a Mary Sue

NO. ABSOlutely not.

Were Tonks a Mary-Sue, she would have been a prefect, head girl, well behaved all the time, got along with all the teachers...etc etc, there's too much proof that Tonks AIN'T a Mary-Sue, thank all the Divinities of our Earth (I got the word Divinities from my classical studies )

Lady_Hufflepuff--proud I remembered something from one of my classes, even though it's during a two-week break.

[Sylven]

Okay, a couple things,

First, what in God's name is a Mary-sue? I realize this may (and by "may", I mean "probably") make me sound out of the loop, but I've never hesitated to ask a question that might make me look stupid (believe me, I stopped counting the times it's happened).

And Second, very good points, Lady Hufflepuff. Do you think maybe she'll have a bonding moment over something with Harry, and then get killed off in a dramatic and make-me-run-for-the-tissue-box way? I'm just shooting out ideas, doesn't necessarily mean I fully think something will happen (or that I want it too). Ginny seemed to bond with her, so maybe there'll be some kind of connection there. As in maybe Ginny bonding with Harry over losing a mentor type (I just don't believe she'll kill off a Weasely - though I wouldn't mind if Percy got knocked about a bit - the toerag). Or maybe she will be Lupin's love interest, and that poor guy can finally have something go right in his life for once!

And speaking of significance, what's up with the Creeveys? I thought for sure one of 'em was gonna get killed in this book...

[Splatt]

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First, what in God's name is a Mary-sue?

Well, Sylven, join the club, because I had to ask Ada the same thing not so long ago ... and I'm not sure even now I fully understand, or whether it's that there are different interpretations - but it was something along the lines of an author introducing an OC character, and their personality/background being that of either the author themself or some perfect role model? I know someone can come here and do a much better explanation than that!

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And speaking of significance, what's up with the Creeveys?

LOL! I think they're Harry's light relief! For some reason, they always come across as a bit of a joke, really!

[Rutzy]

Tonks is one of those lovable characters: clumsy and normal: meaning not stuffy and you'd just love to hang/chill out with her because she spells FUN ! you'd just warm yourself to her if she's a real person!

her morphing abilities are even rare in the wizarding world ergo: i'm hedging she'll play a pivotal role in helping with the Order in defeating Voldemort. plus, she relates well with Harry & the Gang being not much older herself: the nose switching scene dinner at 12 Grimmauld Place OoTP was a comedy-of-sorts. and her constant smashing/crashing into stuff is hysterical when you visualize it for the irony being she's an AUROR!!! how did that happen huh?

why do i feel JKR might just sacrifice dearest Tonks in keeping with her "more deaths towards the last 2 books" -- the characters sacrificed are those really close to Harry. in GOF Cedric died but i wasn't that moved compared to Sirius' death in OoTP which agonizingly pierced the heart.

i'm bracing myself with the next characters JKR would do-away.

as to the Creevey brothers, my pet theory: they'd probably make good beaters for the Gryffindor Quidditch team to replace the Fred & George Weasley.

[Nutters]

Jumping into the thread a bit late here. Hope you don’t mind. I’ll just touch on a few things. . .don’t want to go too in depth in certain areas because they’ve already been discussed. ..and I’m sure someone could put them in words more eloquently then I could.

When I first read OotP, I have to admit that I was somewhat weary of Tonks. While she is a lovably, clumsy character (she’s cool but has her faults) I thought she was almost too good to be true. Heck, how many of us during our first go through of GoF loved the new paranoid DADA professor and look how he turned out! You don’t know how crushed I was during the climax of PoA when I thought Remus was a traitor but then the truth was finally brought to light. I thought that JKR was once again adding another twist in the mix and making a lovable character like Tonks into a spy. I think it was the Metamorphmagi thing that threw me.

Like many of you, I think the Metamorphamagi (try saying that 10 times fast!) will come into play in the future. Yes, it is a rare gift. Not everyone can do it. But if the Order has just one metamorph in their ranks, what’s to say that Voldemort doesn’t have one as well? I’m not saying he has a whole army out there. . .just one. Think of the damage he could do and the knowledge he could possess.

Random thought: Tonks says she was born a Metamorphmagus (pg 52 US ed) while Remus explains how James, Sirius, and Peter studied to become Animagi while in Hogwarts (pg 354 US ed). Is it possible for one to study to become a Metamorphmagus as well? Obviously, they won’t be as skilled at it as a born Metamorphmagi but could someone study to do basics. ..like changing their hair color or eye color? (However, I’m sure those examples could be done with a wand and an incantation)

I adore Tonks. I never really thought of her as a “Mary Sue.” And what if JKR did create a Mary Sue type character in the future? I doubt we’ll like her books any less. However, I’m sure if she did create a character like that, people will begin to compare her character to one out of a fan fic like they did with the Pensieve scene. I think people forget that she had this whole story and every character mapped out before PS/SS was published. Yes she tweaked things along the way but nothing to compromise the integrity of her plot. So if she decides to bring in a beautiful American witch to be the next DADA professor in book 6. . .ok. . .

Of course, she will most likely NOT do that. She won’t create a “Mary Sue” because the idea behind a “Mary Sue” is that they are perfection incarnate. One of the things we love about her characters are that they’re real in the sense they have flaws. . .they’re not perfect. Harry is moody, Ron is. ..thoughtless?, Hermione is bossy, James was a git, Sirius was unstable, Remus. . .well he has his lycanthropy, Molly is overbearing, and Tonks is clumsy.

I certainly hope Tonks won’t be sacrificed in the future. But I know that anyone can go in the future books. . .JKR said that OotP was only the beginning of the deaths and we have to learn to expect the unexpected. Look at what happened with Sirius. Oy.

[Sylven]

Someone actually complained that the pensieve was something out of their fanfic? Did this person NEVER read any fantasy or sci-fi before HP? For crying out loud, there's examples everywhere of characters somehow getting mixed up in other people's memories through some sort of impression object or direct contact. Wow...people amaze me.

Yeah, I was going to say something else about Tonks, but now I've completely forgotten. I should probably go to sleep now, but instead I'm going in search of a beer in the deep dark recesses of my refridgerator (for 21 over only, kiddies. Don't try this at home).

Though, honestly, it seems most people on here aren't younger than mid teens, are they? You don't have to answer that, it's just an impression.

By the way, what is this face? It looks like a ninja...oh, but it says "ph34r"...which reminds me, if you have spare time go to www.megatokyo.com. It's the most random, hilarious, well-drawn internet comic I've ever seen. Highly, highly enjoyable.

[Splatt]

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Is it possible for one to study to become a Metamorphmagus as well?

I'm pretty certain, although I can't get at any books right now, that Harry asked Tonks that in OotP ....

And Sylven:

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Though, honestly, it seems most people on here aren't younger than mid teens, are they?

I think you are right, we have a wide age range amongst the Inmates at the Tower, but quite a few are adults or late teens (not sure where 'adult' officially starts as a classification?????)

However, I believe we have yet to find anyone else in MY decade!!!!! LOL

This post has been edited by Splatt: 15 April 2004 - 04:23 PM

[fidgedamidge]

I think our youngest is 12 or 13...possibly younger but I haven't noticed them. The majority of our members seem to be in the 15-30 range, with a few exceptions.

Back to the topic...I LOVE Tonks. I don't think she's a Mary-Sue in the slightest. I mean, she's no more Mary-Sueish than anyone else. The fact that she's a Metamorphmagus is just something that makes her special - 3/4 of the Marauders, Professor McGonagall and Rita Skeeter are/were all Animagi and yet none of them are looked upon as Mary-Sues.

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Harry is moody, Ron is. ..thoughtless?, Hermione is bossy, James was a git, Sirius was unstable, Remus. . .well he has his lycanthropy, Molly is overbearing, and Tonks is clumsy. 

I couldn't agree more with that. Those faults are what keep those characters real. And I'd like to point out that not only is Tonks clumsy, but she's loud in general and...well...forthright is the word that springs to mind. Not only that, but her hair is a 'cry for attention' as my mother the therapist would say.

In any case, just because Tonks is a very relatable character who has a really nifty ability, she's not a MS.

And I'm tired and newly-home from work, so I'm going go take a bath and slumber!

~Fidge

[Sylven]

I just reread the scene last night where Harry arrives at Grimmauld Place, and is coming downstairs for dinner when Tonks trips over the umbrella stand and sets off all the portraits screaming.............

I love Tonks. If they didn't mind the age thing, I think she would be a good match for Lupin. He's got a light sense of humor underneath the seriousness...such as making the wad of chewing gum fly up Peeve's nose and the whole thing with Snape in a dress (Oh, lord I can't wait to see that scene in the movie), and Tonks is such a goofball!

I'm longing to see her in real action, though, since her other abilities must far outway her clumsiness. I don't think she'd have made Auror on being a metamorphmagus alone.

[Cadenza]

Mmm, thought. Tonks is an anti-Mary Sue. You know how you could just feel JKR made up Rita Skeeter to poke fun at annoying pushy reporters? So maybe she didn't necessarily read fanfiction, but she's not got her head in the sand, so somehow she read something about bad, Mary Sue-filled fanfiction. So she pokes fun at people who write Mary Sues by tossing in this new talent, that with any Mary-Sue-ing writer would make Tonks Perfect and Beautiful and sweep Harry off his feet and yadda-yadda-yadda...but she doesn't. She's clumsy and silly and insane and loveable in a completely human way. So JKR is showing how having something uniquely special--cheating--about a character doesn't have to make all your audience hate them for being perfect and one-dimensional.