Independent thinking (was "Freedom is slavery...")

[Carol Bainbridge]

No: HPFGUIDX 43726

bugaloo37 wrote:

>I completely agree.  Choices, choices, Choices- this is most
>definitely a theme of the series-if not the central theme.  <snip>
>To think independantly- to be able to
>draw on your own strength-to be able to put to use all that you are-
>what you know, what you feel-allows you to be able to resist the
>inclination to just go along.  Those who think for themselve cannot
>be easily swayed.  In other words, Voldemort cannot just come along
>and sweep them up like a dustbroom. What a fantastic thought!!- Harry
>is not a helpless puppet and neither is any other person who stays
>true to himself and what he believes to be true.

I think you're on to something here.  This would sure say a lot about 
Harry, his ability to fight the imperious curse, and the decisions he 
makes.  It puts his rule-breaking behavior, or at least most of it, in a 
new light too.  He doesn't break the rules simply because he's challenging 
them or thinks he can, as Snape sees it.  He usually breaks the rules when 
he thinks it's necessary -- keeping Hagrid out of trouble by getting rid of 
Norbert, looking for information about Nicholas Flamel late at night 
because he thinks something is wrong.  The choices Harry often has to make 
are often between too ethically correct ones -- i.e. following the rules 
versus being loyal to friends.  Those are hard choices to make, unless one 
blindly follows the rules or cares nothing about them.  For Harry, the 
choices often involve great personal risk as well as sacrifice (telling 
Cedric about the dragons, refusing to take the Cup in the Tri-wizard 
tournament).  No wonder I love Harry so much.


Carol Bainbridge
(kaityf at jorsm.com)

http://www.lcag.org