[HPforGrownups] Re: Harry Potter and the Privileges of Birth

[Susanne Schmid]

No: HPFGUIDX 29126


 
  David <dfrankiswork at netscape.net> wrote: 
<snip a few interesting and valuable arguments>

>> Every crisis has Harry breaking adult rules and defying adult 
>> authority to follow his own inevitably correct judgment

<Undoubtedly this is true in the early books.  In GOF, however, at <the 
<rebirthing scene, we see that Harry has to learn that he, like 
<everyone else, is wrong.  There is another aspect, however.  In 
<breaking rules, Harry is following Dumbledore's example and even 
<instruction (time turner), and indeed Arthur Weasley's.

<This is undoubtedly a major cultural issue for fans.  I have been 
<meaning to post about Mundungus Fletcher - or, rather, this list's 
<reaction to him.  It seems that there is a deliberately anarchic 
<strand to the series, and that rule-breaking, if not exactly <lauded, 
<is condoned.  Getting round ministry rules is a big game, with 
<Mundungus and others on one side, and Arthur and his colleagues on 
<the other.  Arthur's comment on Mundungus is like that on a <sporting 
<event - he tried to get one past me but I was equal to him.  Even 
<Percy's comment "I've got his number" suggests the thrill of <contest 
<as much as parking meter officialdom.  The Veela upset the World <Cup 
<referee and it's all part of the fun.  Percy's rule keeping is 
<mercilessly mocked.  Cheating is a time-honoured part of the 
<Triwizard tournament.  The Bulgarian Minister of Magic conceals <his 
<knowledge of English to embarrass Fudge.

<I think many fans are uneasy with this aspect of Harry Potter, and 
<with perhaps more justice than the religious right.  I, <personally, 
<enjoy it, and have no fears for what my children will imbibe.  But <as 
<the list's only declared anarchist (my six comrades according to 
<Penny's poll are too shy to say who they are), you'd expect that.

<Yes, Harry's and Dumbledore's judgement is consistently presented <as 
<better than the Ministry's, and other structural sources of <authority 
<like the Dursleys and, to an extent, McGonagall.  I don't see that <as 
<a bad thing in a world governments still manage to produce a fair 
<slice of the world's untimely deaths.  And the view that <individual 
<judgement is best is not completely unchallenged.  Sirius and 
<Hermione try to act as a check on Harry, and the reader is to 
<understand that not only their motives but their judgement is <better 
<than his.  Rita Skeeter represents unaccountable individual <judgement 
<taken to its extreme.

<David


Great post, David. 

I agree with you- the message of all four books is undoubtedly: "Before you follow anybody's rules, think about them." Ministry rules, school rules, whatever. because that is one of the main aspects of being a mature human being: To be able to judge for ourselves and to act in function of this judgement. You may act according to the ten commandments and be the perfect bastard. You may observe every single law and do wrong. This is not an original thought, but nevertheless it's true. 

In this sense, Fudge and Dumbledore are antagonists and I'm afraid that nothing good will be the result of this antagonism.

Percy is constantly mocked for his rule-observing, because he might become another Fudge. Crouch represents the persons who set rules above everything, sending his own son to Azkaban, albeit he is not entirely sure the accusations against him are true. 

These are clear examples, and IMO, JKR makes it very plausible, that she doesn't approve of rule-breaking in itself, but that it is necessary in case your very own convictions and your conscience are in contrast with the rules. I've always felt that way and I don't know how many of them I broke (just imagine, working in a ministry!) when I was convinced of being right.

What bothers me a little is that Harry drags Ron along. In the first two books, Harry clearly behaves like no 11 or 12 year-old would ever behave- that would be my strongest point of criticism against JKR's characterisation. The things he says and does in PS/SS and CoS are clearly the words and deeds of the 14 or 15 year-old he is in PoA and GoF. Ron, on the contrary, *is* an 11 year-old boy with all that comes with it. And he takes part in all the adventures and all the rule-breaking, without being sufficiently mature to do so. He has neither the judgement nor the independence. For him, this might become quite dangerous, unless he grows up quickly (which he might do during the summer and the fifth year). 
But he might also want to show everybody that he is capable of the same heroism etc. as Harry, and without the same instinctive judgement and integrity Harry has, he might get not only himself, but a lot of other persons into serious trouble.

Susanna/pigwidgeon37


 
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