Is Harry a stoic?

[zoehooch]

No: HPFGUIDX 32865

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Aja <aromano at i...> wrote:
> strikes me almost as extreme that Harry should try so hard not to 
cry.  I
> understand he's trying admirably to be strong, to be a man, to 
accept and
> deal with all that he has seen--but sometimes you just need to cry, 
and I
> think this was definitely one of those extreme moments. And this 
makes me
> wonder whether, if he keeps repressing his emotions--we know Harry 
is very
> private--a moment will come when they have been stretched to the 
breaking
> point and he'll snap, perhaps in a volatile, self-destructive way. 
> 
> Does anyone else see potential danger in this personality trait of
> Harry's?

Based on Harry's upbringing, until he reaches Hogwarts, he's never 
had a safe opportunity to express his emotions. Certainly the 
Dursleys would never listen to him and I suspect that Dudley made 
sure that Harry didn't have any friends at school.

Once he reaches Hogwarts, he is now famous for surviving you-know-
who, which puts him in the position of being a hero, and to a young 
boy such as Harry, heroes certainly don't cry and express emotion. 
And, of course, Harry must be quite careful that Snape or any of the 
Slytherins might overhear him being vulnerable, based on the actions 
of Malfoy whenever anything happens to Harry, such as fainting when 
the Dementor was on the train.

But Harry does have Sirius, to whom he has poured out his soul in 
their owl correspondance. As Sirius and Harry continue their 
relationship as godfather and godchild, Harry will always have 
someone safe to tell his feelings to. 

But I do wish he'd be more open with the other people that love him, 
such as the Weasleys and Hermione.

Zoe Hooch