Gender roles, acronyms, postal possibilities, limited natural resources

[boyblue_mn]

No: HPFGUIDX 32945

Tabouli wrote:

> Does it strike anyone else as interesting that the people earnestly 
debating the 14yo Harry and his (lack of) tears and problems with 
expressing emotion all, as far as I can tell, seem to be female 
listmembers?? (btw, Harry also cried, albeit involuntarily, after 
confronting the Boggart-Dementor in Lupin's office, to his great 
shame).  Where are the English male listmembers who actually remember 
being a 14yo English boy?  (Neil?  David?)
> 
> ....EDITED.....
> 

Regarding Harry's ability to express emotion, and note, this opinion 
comes for a guy.

I've noticed that many of Harry's decisions are based on his earlier 
life experience. Frequently, I find myseld asking, 'well, why didn't 
he just do this or that, that would have been an easy solution'.

But you need to consider the life Harry has lead; alone, abused, 
emotionally and physically isolated; oppressed, ignored, no friends, 
no real family, no allies, and no one to turn too under any 
circumstances.  He's just a little boy with no ability to control his 
life. That's one of the reasons child abuse is so emotionally 
damaging. The only thing you have in life to depend on or lean on, is 
the source of all your problems, your family. To the mind of a small 
child, the miserable life you have, is the only choice you have. 

Harry has had to steel himself against the abuse. He's had to harden 
his heart and emotions, to keep the pain from killing him. 

He doesn't ask for help no matter how simple or complex the situation 
is because in his entire life there has never been anyone he could 
ask. So he instinctively deals with things on his own because HE is 
the only person he has ever be sure that he could count on. He 
frequently keeps problems from Ron and Hermione.

He doesn't express his emotion, because in an abusive household, that 
is a dangerous thing. He doesn't express his emotions because there 
has never been anyone ever to express his emotions to, and if by 
chance he did, the consequences were probably pretty bad.

I see Harry as a desparately lonely boy, who has never had anyone he 
could count on but himself. Even with two great friends like Ron and 
Hermione, he still holds himself back.  He still maintains a certain 
degree of isolation, and he probably will for his whole life. He can 
overcome but he can never undo the damage caused by his early life.

Considering the life he has lived, even with the obvious signs of an 
abused personality, Harry has emerged a reasonably well adjusted 
person. He's not a drug addict, or criminal, he hasn't turn the abuse 
that was given to him back on to other people. It's amazing that he 
has held up as well has he has. 

Under the circusmstance, how could you expect him to be anything but 
emotionally and physically isolated?

boyblue_mn

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