Responsibility/Irresponsibility

[catherine at cator-manor.demon.co.uk]

No: HPFGUIDX 18967

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., pbnesbit at m... wrote:
> Hi all, 
> 
> This was on my "thought for the day" on the MSN homepage:
> 
> 'It is better to be irresponsible and right than responsible and 
> wrong.' --Winston Churchill.
> 
> Of course, given my predilictions/obsession, the first person I 
> thought of was Harry.  It suits him to a T.  He's often 
irresponsible 
> (going after the Philosopher's Stone, rescuing Ginny from the 
Chamber 
> of Secrets, following Ron and Sirius into the Shrieking Shack) but 
> he's right in all of these examples.  
> 
> Just thought I'd throw this out there & see where you take it. 
> 
> Peace & Plenty, 
> 
> Parker

I like the notion, but I'm not sure that it applies in those specific 
examples.  When he goes after the Philosopher's Stone, and resues 
Ginny from the chamber of secrets, he is doing so for one reason - 
the absence of Dumbledore both times means that there aren't any 
other real options open to him.  In the first case, Professor 
McGonagall isn't taking him seriously (which is a good thing, as he 
would only have pointed the finger at Snape).  In the second case, he 
and Ron try to enlist the help of Lockhart - they don't try and do 
the thing purely by themselves.  In both cases, if Dumbledore had 
been available, Harry would have left it to him - told him what he 
knew etc.  As for the Shrieking Shack episode - they didn't want to 
go and fetch Dumbledore, as they didn't want to get Hagrid into 
trouble, and again, I think that it is acting responsibly by not 
abandoning one's friend and trying to help him.

Therefore, IMO, in all cited occassions, with regard to the denuement 
at least, Harry actions show that he is taking responsibility.
Feel free to shout me down! (I guess that goes without saying!)

Catherine