Harry Potter Character Sketch - Part 3 of 3

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No: HPFGUIDX 17147

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., joym999 at a... wrote:

> 
> 1.  The primary question about Harry, which we have discussed a 
> million times, is WHY does Voldemort want to kill him?  And why did 
> he kill James and Lily, for that matter?

Well, it has to do with Harry being a Potter. We know this because of 
what Sirius sais in PoA to Pettigrew:
"... ready to strike the moment he could be sure of allies... to 
deliver the last Potter to them." (UK, p. 400)
There are hints of a connection to Godric Gryffindor - the Potter's 
were living in Godric's Hollow, Harry was given Griffyndor's sword.
So - is it the last Slytherin vs. the last Griffyndor? Personally, I 
hope not. A bit banal, to my mind. 
If not the Gryffindor connection, what is it about the Potters that 
presents such a danger for V.? Nada. Haven't a clue.
Is it something to do with Trelawney's first true prediction? Did V. 
hear of the prediction (that the last Potter will be his downfall?), 
and in the classic fatalistic train went to eliminate the danger only 
to fulfill the prediction?
I doubt it. Why would he take Trelawney's prediction seriously, even 
if by some far off chance he had heard of it? She doesn't precisely 
inspire respect, does she? I can't see V. doing anything but laughing 
his "high, cold laugh" on hearing that that ridiculous woman 
predicted that a baby will be the downfall of the most powerfull dark 
wizard in a century.

> 
> 2.  What was Professor Trelawney's first correct prediction?  Was 
it 
> about Harry?  More importantly, was it that only Harry could kill 
> Voldemort?  Or that Harry would lead the fight against Voldy, or 
that 
> only Harry could do something that would lead to Voldy's defeat?  
Or 
> that only a child born to the Potters could defeat Voldy?  WHAT WAS 
> IT?  (Yes, I know this has been discussed to death)
> 

See above.


> 3.  Will Harry's life end in tragedy or will he live happily ever 
> after?  Is there a reasonable argument for either, i.e. has JKR 
> indicated in any way how Harry will end up?

I don't think there is any reasonable textual argument for or against 
Harry's survival. There may be "meta" arguments - based on the 
structure and "feel" of the books. For myself, I'm sure he will 
survive. BTW, to all you lit crits out there - how do you do 
protagonist's death in Third Person Limited? 


> 
> 4.  Why the hell did the Dursleys take Harry in, anyway?  

It's an interesting question. I've thought about it before and I can 
only assume that it was presented to them as a fait accompli - he's 
here and you have to take care of him; DO NOT give him away.. or 
else.. . The Dursleys would be too scared not to follow instructions.

> 
> 5.  Probably the most popular question about Harry Potter is – Who 
> will he fall in love with?  Will it be Cho Chang, Hermione, Ginny, 
or 
> someone else?  This has already been discussed to death, but I'm 
sure 
> the Shipping Contingent wants to discuss it some more.  Knock 
> yourselves out.

Ginny. It's very romantic (almost too romantic) but I'd like to see 
it happen. I also have the feeling that JKR is going that way, albeit 
slowly. 

> 
> 6.  What does the fact that Harry has chosen the fun-loving Ron and 
> the bookish Hermione as his two best friends say about Harry's 
> personality?

Well, Ron is more fun-loving than Hermione, but he's not the clown 
type IMO (compare him to F&G). I don't see Ron and Hermione as the 
two opposites with Harry balanced in the middel, which seems to be 
the picture you're trying to convey. 
They are Harry's friends becuase of their courage and loyalty, IMO. 
The other characteristics are icing on the cake, so to speak.

> 7.  Why is Harry such a good Quidditch player?  How come he knows 
how 
> to fly a broomstick without even being taught?  Does it have 
> something to do with his past?  Isn't it a bit much that Harry is 
not 
> only the only one to have ever defeated Voldemort AND a 
natural-born 
> Quidditch superstar?

It does seem a bit much, doesn't it? I never thought of it from this 
perspective, though. It just seems natural that the hero will *be* a 
hero, no? I don't think it's related, besides the fact that he gets 
his Quidditch talent from his father, and if he caused Voldy's 
downfall because he's a Potter, then he got that from his father too.


Naama