Harry, Parseltongue, and the Basilisk

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 86602

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Derek Hiemforth <derek at r...> wrote:

> 
> Derek commenting on HP Lexicon:
> ..., in the ... case of the Basilisk, I offer another idea for why 
> Harry didn't speak Parseltongue to it...
> 
> Throughout CoS, many .... suspect him of being the Heir of Slytherin
> because he's a Parselmouth. ... Salazar Slytherin was a 
> Parselmouth too, and (Harry) ... wonders whether the sorting hat
> made a mistake putting him in Gryffindor. Now, ..., he learns that
> Tom Riddle is ... Lord Voldemort, and ... a Parselmouth....
> 
> ..., ... it's possible Harry didn't just fail to think of trying to 
> speak Parseltongue to the Basilisk, nor fail to try it because he 
> didn't think he could command it (the Basilisk).
> 

bboy_mn:

Two very good point (one above and one below). Regarding the first
point above, remember that Harry only speaks parseltongue
instinctively, he has no intelectual knowledge of the language. When
he and Ron are in the bathroom at the entrance to the Chamber, Harry
says 'Open' then turn to Ron for confirmation. This first time Harry
tries, Ron tells him he is speaking English, so Harry concentrates
very very hard, and gives it another try.

So Harry shifting to Parseltongue is not like the average bi-lingual
person switching from English to Spanish; he doesn't simple substitute
alternate words for what he wants to say, "Buenos dias, Como esta?"
for "Good day, how are you?".

When Harry speaks Parseltongue he is not aware of it, and can't
intellecutally translate between the languages. That makes it very
difficult in a high stress situation to think of what to say in a
language that he has no intellectual knowledge of. 

The process is also complicated by trying to reason with a beast that
does not necessarily have good reasoning skills. Presenting the
logical argument of 'I'm the good guy, listen to me, not Riddle'
probably doesn't carry much weight with a giant snake.

Even if I was a moderately good Spanish language student, I think I
would be a little hesitant wandering around Spain on my own trying to
speak to people. If those people were brutal, ruthless, and in the
process of trying to murder me, I think I would be very hesitant to
test my language skills at that time. 

So, Harry not speaking Parseltongue, all things considered, makes
perfect sense to me.


> Derek continues:

> Instead, perhaps he failed to try because he was afraid he *could*
> command it...
> 
> This would have been subconscious, of course.  But the last thing 
> Harry would have wanted right then would be further reinforcement of
>  the idea that he was ... Slytherins.  If Harry *had* been able to 
> command the Basilisk, it would have carried a great many unpleasant 
> ramifications for him...
> 
> - Derek

bboy_mn:

As much as I think Harry's lack of functional ability in Parseltongue
is the truest reason, I can't deny that 'House of Slytherin Phobia'
played a part. Certainly, Harry's Parseltongue ability, and his almost
placement in Slytherin would have created an underlying subconcious
fear of himself; a fear that he might be something he desparately does
not want to be.

As much as I think there are other explainations, your idea of Harry
having a subconcious fear and insecurity is true in combination with
all those other circumstances. It's an underlying truth that is always
there regardless of other explainations.

Just a thought.

bboy_mn