[HPforGrownups] Re: Harry's lack of consideration . . .

[Amanda Lewanski]

No: HPFGUIDX 3057

Cassandra Claire wrote:

> A very good point. Harry is a teenage boy, *not* an age group
> particularly noted for selflessness. By showing that Harry has some
> weaknesses, (a slightly short temper, perhaps a tiny lack of
> consideration...) JKR keeps him from being a saint, and therefore
> unrealistic. As far as Harry not giving any consideration to the
> other victims of Voldemort...in GoF he lies awake at night listening
> to Neville breathing and thinking that what happened to Neville's
> family is worse than what happened to his own, and feeling horribly
> guilty about it. And to my mind, bringing Cedric's body back to his
> parents at great personal risk was the ultimate act of consideration -
> - the act of a boy who is not just brave, but very nearly selfless. I
> really just don't think Harry has a mean bone in his body...and if he
> does, it's a very small bone, maybe a toe.

Also remember that for Harry, socialization and handling friendships are
things he's just now learning. Most of the rest of us learn our
interpersonal skills a lot earlier. Harry's not fine-tuning them, like
most kids his age, he's *acquiring* them, so some actions that seem
obvious to us just don't occur to him.

--Amanda