Hagrid's Competence

[christi0469]

No: HPFGUIDX 33958

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "moongirlk" <moongirlk at y...> wrote:
> I'm sorry, I know I'm the bleeding heart always jumping to the 
> defense of pretty much everyone, but I love Hagrid, I can't help 
it.
> 
> kimberly

 I wanted to add two points to your wonderful defense of Hagrid.
 
1) His affinity to beasts that most people view as dangerous is most 
likely a reaction to the way Hagrid himself is perceived. People 
initially judge Hagrid by his size, and by the looks of him he could 
tear a person apart with his bare hands. This gruff exterior hides a 
very gentle and understanding soul. I think it is only natural that 
he would feel an empathy with creatures that he feels are being 
unfairly discriminated against. He sees value in creatures that most 
people would just as soon see killed. 

2) Hagrid became a better teacher after the Rita Skeeter article 
exposed him as a half-giant. He continued the lesson on unicorns 
that Grubbly-Plank initiated, and organized a very enjoyable hands-
on class with the nifflers. The Care of Magical Creatures course 
should involve both gentle and dangerous beasts. Hagrid could prove 
to be a very good teacher for this course indeed, as he is very 
experienced in this field and has a natural ability with anaimals. 
He just needs a more balanced approach between his dangerous 
creature activism and the students preference for all things cute 
and cuddly. 

 Hagrid is one of my favorite characters. You could not hope for a 
gentler and more devoted friend. I don't thinks he would hesitate to 
give his life for someone he loved. He gives Harry the last kiss in 
what probably amounts to 13 years (I don't see him getting any love 
from the Dursleys). Harry has dreams of a flying motorcycle, so he 
most likely retained some of Hagrid's care subconsiously. Hagrid is 
also the one to rescue Harry from the Dursleys and introduce him to 
the world in which he belongs. Hagrid has flaws without a doubt, on 
the balance he is a very positive character.

Christi