[HPforGrownups] Harry and bravery (was: The Sorting Hat)

[Derek Hiemforth]

No: HPFGUIDX 87352

iris_ft wrote:
>Not brave, Harry?
(snip canon quote)
>Maybe my favourite moment in the whole series. Harry's perfectly 
>conscious of the danger he has to face when he decides to go through 
>the trapdoor in order to find the Stone.

Derek:
He's conscious of the danger in that scene, but there are others in
which he isn't.  But I think the main point Kathryn and Kneasy were
trying to make is that (for example) if Harry, Ron, and Neville all
face some danger, and only Ron and Neville are afraid, then only
Ron and Neville have shown courage by facing it.  Facing something
you're not afraid of doesn't require bravery.  Harry is certainly
*bold*, and I'm not sure I'd say he *lacks* bravery, per se.  But
I can see their point saying it's not his primary trait.  To me,
bravery is *Ron's* primary trait.  He constantly faces things that
frighten him.

- Derek