Dramatic Engine: Fear v. Desire

[Scott]

No: HPFGUIDX 1113

This is interesting, and for once I can think of something to say in 
reply to your post! :-)

What is Harry's desire? IMO, it is much the same as the rest of us.  
He is seeking validation and even more importantly than that he wants 
to be seen for what he does and not just who he is.  People often 
look at celeberities or other public figures and think "Gee I wish I 
had your life."  I would say that while the glamour is well- 
glamourous, it would be a significant strain to continually live up 
to your name.  Make no mistake about, noteriety comes at a price and 
Harry is paying it as he will continue to do.  

(Back to the topic...)  I think Harry's greatest desire would be to 
be normal. Normal in a sense that he isn't judged by the 
circumstances of his past, as these are things he has no control over.
I think he really wants people to accept him as "enough".

So what is his greatest fear?  Well one could say that a person's 
greatest fear is the opposite of their desire-i.e. Harry is afraid 
that nobody will ever understand that he isn't "Famous Harry" but 
just "Harry." I really don't think this is the case.  I would 
probably venture to say that Harry's biggest fear is the uncertainty 
that has overshadowed his life.  He's never been able to confide in 
anyone and he grew up in an unloving household. During the "Dursely 
years" he was in a sense living a lie.  Then at eleven he goes to 
Hogwarts and finds out many overwhelming truths. There are all of the 
issues that Peg brought up about loyalty and secrets...and these 
things must be pretty difficult for Harry to face.  He doesn't know 
what the future holds and he still's not sure about the past...that 
would be a very hard thing to digest.

Now as far as the others I'm not really sure....I do think that Ron's 
greatest desire is opposite of Harry's.  All of his life he has been 
over shadowed by those that have done greater things or have been 
more successful.  That is true not only in his family but in his 
friends as well.  He is striving for the fame that Harry would 
eagerly shed.   (Trelawny mood coming on...) Look for conflicts in 
later books to reflect this!

Overall I think that our true fears and desires are not physical but 
come from inside of ourselves...though often we only relise them 
through physical manisfestations.  Maybe that is what Harry was 
seeing in the mirror of Erised during PS/SS, not  only that he wanted 
to see his family but that he wanted the love of a family to embrace 
him in times of trouble (something he is now getting w/ the Weasely's)

Well that's my take on things.  I would continue to tell about the 
other characters but I'm sure that you're tired of this post. 

Scott 




--------------------
 
 And what does he fear the most? Dementors, say the readers of 
Prisoner of Azkaban--or perhaps more generally, all the forces of 
evil that ally with Voldemort (not to mention> Voldemort himself, 
particularly after the last chapters of GoF).
 
So, looking at the series as a whole, what do you think Harry wants 
the most, and what does he fear the most?  And how do you think (or 
hope!) Rowling will make those two things collide, and what will 
happen when they do?

 Peg
 
 P.S. Extra points for anyone who wants to tackle these questions for 
any other characters, too.  What does Snape fear the most v. want the 
most? Ron?  Hermione?  Voldemort?  Etc.