Innocence, Naivite' and Judgement of HP Preteens

[fourfuries at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 24631

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., rainy_lilac at y... wrote:
> *Pointing to John and saying "What he said!"*
> 
> I personally think JKR is portraying teenage feelings in a way that 
>is appropriate, witty, and fun. I doubt that we will be seeing 
>anything lurid in the coming books, but we will be seeing our 
>characters experiencing real human emotions of all kinds, which 
>includes having crushes or romantic attachments or making really bad 
>puns about "Uranus".

  Is there something wrong with innocence, that we should be amazed 
when people prefer books that offer it over books more instructive 
in "carnal knowledge"?  I for one support Mindy's view, that what 
makes these books great is JKR's ability to present real conflict and 
well drawn characterizations, without prematurely sacrificing 
the "innocense" of her young protagonists.

  There is nothing naive about considering Harry and company 
innocent.  In Book One, Harry meets with nothing more damning than 
fear and pain.  In Book Two, he deals with the near death of Ginny 
and Hermione, and the depraved malice of Tom Riddle.  In Book Three 
he experiences first his own rage at and then the loss by separation 
from a loved one, Sirius Black.  It is not until Book FOur, at its 
climax, that he comes to know what murder is.

  What endears us to Harry is that he takes each progressive stage of 
challenge in stride appropriate to his age.  He doesn't display 
wisdom beyond his years, or Solomonic judgement, or Herculean 
strength.  He is more like the original boy in Home Alone, in just 
slightly over his head, but working to keep that head above water 
('scuse the twisting of the metaphors).

  If the next books are consistent, Harry will experience even more 
painful things, but only in measure to his ability to overcome that 
pain.  If he deals with anything inappropriate to his stage of 
development AS A PERSON, I shall be sorely disappointed.  And for 
those who want to argue about appropriate, remember, "it is our 
choices...".  The implication being that some choices are better than 
others, and that we must exercise our native judgement if we are to 
recognize the better choices.

4FR Puzzled.