Ch. 14: Character Development

[Karin]

No: HPFGUIDX 3409

One of the interesting things to me in chapter 14 is that we seem to 
learn a lot about several characters, simply by their reactions to 
the Unforgiveable Curses.

1.  The majority of the class, including Ron:  Most of the class 
thinks the lesson was really amazing and cool.  Not having any 
personal experience relating to the Unforgiveable Curses, they don't 
recognize how horrible they really are.  Moody says he is trying to 
make them more aware, but most of the students leave the classroom 
just as insulated as when they entered that day.

2.  Hermione:  Hermione watches not only what happens to the spiders, 
but the reactions of those around her.  She sees Neville's reaction 
to the Cruciatus Curse, and demands that Professor Moody stop.  
Hermione hasn't had the personal experience either, but her reaction 
is different from that of most of the class.  I think we learn from 
that that she is not only intelligent and observant, but that she is 
also an extremely caring and thoughtful person.  

3.  Neville:  Neville's reaction is a big surprise to us, or at least 
it was to me.  Up until this point, Neville has pretty much been a 
one-dimensional character.  But when we see how upset he is by the 
seeing the Cruciatus Curse performed, we realize that there is a lot 
more to him than meets than eye.  

4.  Harry:  Harry's reaction to the curses is also a contrast to that 
of most of the class.  He has just learned how his parents died, and 
there is nothing amazing or cool about that.  

>From their reactions here, we see that most of the students will be 
shocked by Voldemort's return.  It will be a very rude awakening.  
But for Harry and Neville (especially Neville), his potential return 
has been hanging over their heads for quite some time.  As for 
Hermione, she seems to know about practicing constant vigilance 
without the help of Moody.