Happy Birthday, Draco
Jun. 4th, 2007 02:07 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stuttermoanBecause Draco is a foil for Harry, and because his birthday doesn't seem to be associated specifically with any holiday, I think JKR picked it either because its profile matched the character well, or because she knew someone similar who she wanted to reference in her own secret way. And yeah, I still believe she used this book specifically. In all of profiles I've done, I haven't seen any that I consider to be a miss. All quoted portions are from The Secret Language of Birthdays by Gary Goldschneider and Joost Elffers.
Gemini - June 5 - The Day of the Brilliant Path
"Strengths: Energetic, Systematic, Quick-Witted
Weaknesses: Anxious, Chaotic, Bewildered"
The only one I take issue with is 'Systematic,' but then again we get to see little of his productive side from Harry's point of view. Even though Snape has always cut him way too much slack, behaviorally, I think his entire grade can't be due to favoritism, and he did manage to make it into 6th year potions. Potions in general take systematic thinking.
One thing he is decidedly not systematic about is his task to kill Dumbledore, but one could assume his other adjectives get in the way of that.
"Those born on June 5 are often amazed when others don't understand them. In their own ears, their language is plain and simple, based on fact, pragmatic. Yet their ideas can be intricate, involved and occasionally out of touch with reality; their listeners may manage to follow their train of thought yet fail to ultimately grasp the meaning or intention behind it."
From the very beginning, we know that Draco has his own very clear-cut (if not misled) views about the world. On the train before their first year, he reaches out to Harry, in his own Malfoyish way. As much of a bigot as he may be, his intentions at that moment don't seem entirely nefarious to me. Then, and in other instances I am surely forgetting, Harry misreads his intentions.
"It is true that many June 5 people seem to live in their own world. Yet so important is communication to them that they will be greatly frustrated if misunderstood."
Anyone desperate enough to confide in Moaning Myrtle has a serious need to be understood.
"As they mature, most June 5 people become more restrained, more measured and thoughtful."
In contrast, I think this is how JKR shows us that he's not yet mature (or perhaps at a healthy maturity level for his age) because of his erratic way of dealing with his task in HBP.
"June 5 people have a strongly compulsive side that urges them to get things right."
Yep. And if not get things right, justify why it's perfectly okay that he got them wrong.
"Many June 5 people are prone to worry unless every last detail and eventuality is prepared for. 'What if?' is a question they constantly ask themselves and others. This worry usually springs from fear that they will be severely criticized for making errors or made to look foolish. If they can lighten up a bit, and occasionally laugh at themselves, they will be happier and healthier."
I don't buy into the thought of the Malfoy parents being abusive, but surely they have high expectations for their son, and pull no punches in keeping him in line when he makes mistakes. Plus, even in his first year, Draco seems to have a handle on the fact that he is a representative of his family, and purebloods in general.
"Most June 5 people are highly competitive and like to win."
Wow, no kidding. Quidditch, Potions class, life in general.
"Though not perfectionists by nature, some born on this day wind up mercilessly driving themselves in that direction, thinking such an attitude will help them succeed. Often their worst enemy, they create difficulties for themselves and others which do not exist."
He seems to drive himself most when he is in competition (usually with Harry). And in HBP, he no longer views Snape as an ally, but instead as someone he is competing against for Voldemort's approval, thus creating unnecessary problems for all involved. I wonder how things would have turned out if he'd finally let Snape help him? Then again, I guess we'd have known Snape's true alignment one book early.
Gemini - June 5 - The Day of the Brilliant Path
"Strengths: Energetic, Systematic, Quick-Witted
Weaknesses: Anxious, Chaotic, Bewildered"
The only one I take issue with is 'Systematic,' but then again we get to see little of his productive side from Harry's point of view. Even though Snape has always cut him way too much slack, behaviorally, I think his entire grade can't be due to favoritism, and he did manage to make it into 6th year potions. Potions in general take systematic thinking.
One thing he is decidedly not systematic about is his task to kill Dumbledore, but one could assume his other adjectives get in the way of that.
"Those born on June 5 are often amazed when others don't understand them. In their own ears, their language is plain and simple, based on fact, pragmatic. Yet their ideas can be intricate, involved and occasionally out of touch with reality; their listeners may manage to follow their train of thought yet fail to ultimately grasp the meaning or intention behind it."
From the very beginning, we know that Draco has his own very clear-cut (if not misled) views about the world. On the train before their first year, he reaches out to Harry, in his own Malfoyish way. As much of a bigot as he may be, his intentions at that moment don't seem entirely nefarious to me. Then, and in other instances I am surely forgetting, Harry misreads his intentions.
"It is true that many June 5 people seem to live in their own world. Yet so important is communication to them that they will be greatly frustrated if misunderstood."
Anyone desperate enough to confide in Moaning Myrtle has a serious need to be understood.
"As they mature, most June 5 people become more restrained, more measured and thoughtful."
In contrast, I think this is how JKR shows us that he's not yet mature (or perhaps at a healthy maturity level for his age) because of his erratic way of dealing with his task in HBP.
"June 5 people have a strongly compulsive side that urges them to get things right."
Yep. And if not get things right, justify why it's perfectly okay that he got them wrong.
"Many June 5 people are prone to worry unless every last detail and eventuality is prepared for. 'What if?' is a question they constantly ask themselves and others. This worry usually springs from fear that they will be severely criticized for making errors or made to look foolish. If they can lighten up a bit, and occasionally laugh at themselves, they will be happier and healthier."
I don't buy into the thought of the Malfoy parents being abusive, but surely they have high expectations for their son, and pull no punches in keeping him in line when he makes mistakes. Plus, even in his first year, Draco seems to have a handle on the fact that he is a representative of his family, and purebloods in general.
"Most June 5 people are highly competitive and like to win."
Wow, no kidding. Quidditch, Potions class, life in general.
"Though not perfectionists by nature, some born on this day wind up mercilessly driving themselves in that direction, thinking such an attitude will help them succeed. Often their worst enemy, they create difficulties for themselves and others which do not exist."
He seems to drive himself most when he is in competition (usually with Harry). And in HBP, he no longer views Snape as an ally, but instead as someone he is competing against for Voldemort's approval, thus creating unnecessary problems for all involved. I wonder how things would have turned out if he'd finally let Snape help him? Then again, I guess we'd have known Snape's true alignment one book early.
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no subject
Date: 2007-06-05 06:06 pm (UTC)His OWL grade can't be due to favoritism at all, as the teachers have nothing to do with the OWLs, so we know he is a better student than Harry or Ron.
I would use the word systematic to describe him, when you look at the way he organizes entire successful campaigns to mock Harry in GoF and Ron in OotP. Quite pointless, definitely petty, but very systematic!
no subject
Date: 2007-06-05 07:29 pm (UTC)Cool, I'm glad you pointed that out because I forgot those details.
"...he organizes entire successful campaigns to mock Harry in GoF and Ron in OotP."
Great examples, both.
no subject
Date: 2007-06-06 03:35 am (UTC)You know, really, I think that this bit in particular explains exactly where Draco's issues come from in a nutshell. With him, it's important to realize that his feeling of failure stem from himself, not from anything Lucius has purposely done to him. Draco himself has cultivated this idea that he has to be his father's son while Lucius has actually tried to drive that idea out of him (I mean, there's no better way to get your kid to focus on Quidditch instead of the Chamber of Secrets than buying brooms for the whole team, is there?) He doesn't want Draco to be a plunderer or a thief like he is. The only problem is his delivery. Slytherins fear love because it's the one thing they have no control over, and Lucius has no control over how he feels about Draco and he cannot let Draco know that. So even though the message he delivers in Borgin and Burkes is a good one, Lucius says it in a way that doesn't indicate his actual concern for Draco, just his disapproval. Meaning Draco spends all his time seeking his approval and the only way he can think to do that is to imitate Lucius and the loop goes on like that.
Sorry for going on and on, but I just love their relationship like crazy and that part of the analysis fit so perfectly. Actually, it all does. I mean, he may not have been systematic about the Dumbledore part of the plot, but he was about the part where murder wasn't involved and he had to get DEs into the school. And I love the way the part about how he thinks lines up with that first exchange with Harry. It's awesome.
no subject
Date: 2007-06-06 05:36 am (UTC)"Sorry for going on and on..."
Hey, no problem at all, feel free to go on and on in any of my other birthday posts. =P I always know there are points of the analysis I'm missing, so I love it when knowledgeable people fill in the blanks.