Confrontational, rules - Half-and-half

[Amy Z]

No: HPFGUIDX 28964

Cindy wrote:

> On the other hand, some of the HP characters are the exact opposite 
> of confrontational.  In addition to Dumbledore and Lupin, there is 
> also Harry himself, who doesn't toot his own horn, submits to 
> authority, doesn't pick fights, and generally doesn't attempt to 
grab 
> power or attention.  

I am with you on all of this except "submits to authority."  True, 
Harry almost never goes head-to-head against authority at Hogwarts, 
except, e.g., when he is so enraged by Snape in PoA 14 that he loses 
his temper--we all know that a sure way to get under Harry's skin is 
to criticize his parents.  I can't think of another example in the 
wizarding world.  (He's more assertive in the Muggle world; his 
tactics with Vernon are generally devious rather than direct, but he 
does argue with him to his face, he isn't shy about insulting Dudley, 
and there's the Marge incident, of course.)

However, there is a difference between being generally 
nonconfrontational (which Harry is) and being inclined to submit to 
authority (which Harry is not).  He gets around authority in the 
typical way of an intelligent child:  he's polite and apparently 
obedient, but behind adults' backs he does as he sees fit.  I'm not 
criticizing; like you, I'm partial to starship captains who 
conveniently don't receive subspace transmissions from Federation 
headquarters when they have other plans in mind.  Harry's motives are 
generally noble (as when he goes after the Stone) or at worst a bit 
thoughtless and childish (sneaking out to Hogsmeade), and his 
assumption that one is better off not telling adults what one intends 
is understandable, given his background.  But obedience to authority 
is not one of his qualities. 

Susanne wrote:

> Uh, correct me if I'm mistaken, but who breaks rules only to break 
rules? If
> you cross the street in spite of the red lights, you don't do that 
to break a
> rule, but because you're in a hurry and can't wait. The only ones to 
act
> against rules for the mere purpose of doing so are Gred and Forge, 
they do so
> for the fun of it. 

Good point.  Another distinction, then.  Let's say there are people 
with a strong predisposition to obey rules, who need a strong and 
usually selfless motive in order to be convinced to break them (Snape, 
Hermione).  Then there are others who enjoy breaking them for the 
sheer fun of getting away with something (F & G) or out of a 
sociopathic sense that they are by nature or destiny above rules (Tom 
Riddle).  Harry falls somewhere in between; he doesn't delights in 
rulebreaking as such, and his rulebreaking is not motivated by 
arrogance (IMO), but he is relatively quick to disregard rules.

Jason wrote:

>Muggle father, witch mother (just like Dean Thomas)

I think you mean Seamus (PS/SS 7).  (Sorry, but I had better do some 
serious nitpicking, or Joywitch is going to boot me from L.O.O.N. over 
that McGonagall omission.)

Amy

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  "Do you mean ter tell me," he growled at the Dursleys, "that
this boy--this boy!--knows nothin' abou'--about ANYTHING?" 
  Harry thought this was going a bit far. 
                             -HP and the Philosopher's Stone 
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