Average Harry?

[heidit at netbox.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 18872

In Lake Woebegon, maybe...

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Ebony Elizabeth Thomas" <ebonyink at h...> 
wrote:
 
> This may sound like a contradiction, but those who are destined have 
> choices.  They can choose to walk in their destiny.  Or they can 
choose to 
> defy it.  Doesn't negate the value or the truth of the destiny 
itself.
<tinysnip>
> Instead, I'll end with this:  the "ordinariness" of Harry was not 
the 
> selling point of the series for me.  Being in the majority doesn't 
concern 
> me much... but now I am beginning to fear that I have an exaggerated 
sense 
> of self-importance.  

Nah, not exaggerated a bit :)


> > The characters we remember are the ones with larger-than-life
> > characters. The characters who stand out in our minds for some
> reason.
> > Not just because of what happened to them, but because of *who 
they
> > are*.
> 
Amber wrote
> Ah, I think I see where the disagreement is. I do agree with you 
that
> to have a memorable character, that character has to be
> larger-than-life. However, I do have a problem when the character
> becomes "too big". They seem to have every talent under the sun.
> Characters must also be believable; people have to be able to 
empathize
> with them.

I have to admit to coming closer to understanding Ebony's perspective 
on this than, I think, some of the others who've posted, although I do 
agree with Amber as well, that a character shouldn't become too big or 
all powerful - but even the son of satan can be empathized with on 
occasion (see Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett's GOOD OMENS). 
My husband is a major comic book collector. We have more comic boxes 
in the house than I have shoes and sweaters combined - and he's gotten 
me to read certain serieses - even if I hadn't, from listening to him 
with some of his collector friends, and just learning enough to 
understand what he goes on about, I have never seen a successful 
character or series that has every talent, and everything else, in 
measures of perfection. But I don't think that's what Ebony says Harry 
has. It's certainly not what *I* think Harry has.
And I don't think he's immortal (I get enough of that from my damned 
Remillards in Julian May's books), and I don't think he's anywhere 
near perfection. And I also think that other characters in the books 
have certain *special* skills that are more than the ordinary 
"everywizard" or "everywitch" skills - Something about James that 
may've been the reason why Voldie went after him, instead of 
Sirius, who certainly had a much more nondescript & useful Animagus 
firm - and our favorite (and most despised) animagi, for example - or 
if you fall into the Ron Is A Seer camp, or possibly Dumbledore's 
talents which are still only roughly sketched - all those are special 
things that those individuals have  - why is it hard to accept that 
there is likewise (likely) something special inherant in Harry that 
makes him who he is? He still has to choose what to do with it - but 
that little extra glimmer....it's important. I don't know how 
yet....but I feel that it has to be!