HP Characters: Three-Dimensional or Archetypes? (Harry in Particular)

[fourfuries at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 27799

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "jenny from ravenclaw" <meboriqua at a...> 
wrote:
> I really liked this, Penny!
> 
> --- In HPforGrownups at y..., Penny & Bryce <pennylin at s...> wrote:
> 
> > "Although Rowling's characters are convincing and engaging, none 
of 
> them is fully three-dimensional.  These characters are 
progressively 
> revealed, but they don't grow or change -- not even Harry himself.  
As 
> each school year passes, Harry becomes more and ever more clearly 
who 
> he is.  But that's all.  His development is essentially linear.">
> 
> I disagree with that comment.  How is Harry not growing if he is 
> becoming more and more who he is?  Harry just found out who he is 
four 
> years ago!
> 

Personally, I am praying for some linear development of my own!  I'll 
never forget going to my 10 year high school reunion and seeing one 
of a pair of twins that I had known in school but had not seen since 
graduation.  I told him he looked the same as when we were kids (even 
though I wasn't sure which twin he was), and he remarked "I find that 
as we get older, we become more like ourselves, as opposed to less."

I thought that was profound at the time (though my opinion may have   
have been influenced by the beer and such), and today I know it is 
true.  If each of us has a personality, character, soul, spirit or 
whatever you want to call it that is unique and personal to us, it 
only makes sense that this complex thing should be rather linear in 
its development, and only reveal itself over time.

The real question is whether HP characters are generally shallow and 
superficial.  I think the answer with respect to the trio, 
Dumbledore, Hagrid, and a few others is clearly no.  With respect to 
Minerva, Sirius, Lupin and the like, the jury may still be out.  And 
for a host of bit players, the answer is definitely yes.  And so what?

That is what bit players are for.  Further, as one poster wrote, I 
know some real life people who are shallow, superficial and one 
dimensional.  In fact, one commentator said that the narrowness of 
personal identity is a first step in making a fanatic, of which there 
are all kinds, so one dimensionalism may be a common flaw of human 
personality.

4FR (whose joy has been somewhat stolen by certain one dimensional 
fanatics, and by the knee jerk caricatures that think We should feel 
Their pain).