Is Harry ambitious? was Re: [HPforGrownups] Ambition in the Wizarding World

[Susanne]

No: HPFGUIDX 38714



Hi,

Monday, May 13, 2002, 12:11:49 PM, cindysphynx wrote:

> And I'm not saying he doesn't have positive qualities.  Deciding not 
> to be ambitious is fine, really.  I'm just having trouble with the 
> idea that he is ambitious because he dreams of distinguishing 
> himself but takes few steps to make it happen.

> That said, it is really no surprise, is it?  The wizarding world 
> doesn't seem keen on ambition, does it?  Let's see.  Who are our 
> most ambitious characters?

Hm, how ambitious is Harry, compared to Ron?
Mostly, he already has the talent, and only needs a little
help to bring it out.

Hermione certainly works hard, but does Harry?

Things happen to him, and he finds out he has many
talents/abilities that help him out in those circumstances,
but I don't really see him work very hard to make them
happen.

In GoF, he doesn't really work all that hard on his tasks
(though fear may have more to do with that) and would have
never made it without many peoples' help (IMO).
It's possible the other competitors had the same amount of
help. I don't have time to re-read those sections right now.

Yes, he can fight the Imperius curse, but it was relatively
easy for him, because of..., I guess we'll find out more
about this in later books <g>.

And he does work on learning the Patronus Charm, but why
don't any of the teacher try to help other students out with
special charms?

Sure, Harry needs it the most, but other students could
certainly benefit from it, too.

Maybe Harry really *isn't* the only one who could do it.

I actually think many students might be envious of Harry
because he is given a lot more things/attention than any
other student at Hogwarts (for a reason, of course, but they
may not see it that way).

The sorting hat says that Harry has "a nice thirst to prove
himself", but I don't really see him go out of his way to do
this.

Mostly he just takes the easy route, and only when it comes
down to the grind he shows he can work hard (and so does Ron
at these times).

-- 
Best regards,
 Susanne                           mailto:siskiou at earthlink.net