[HPforGrownups] Re: Chapter Discussions - Chapter One, Dudley Demented

[marilyn at gehennom.net]

No: HPFGUIDX 69401

Marina wrote:
> > Most lists of teen depression symptoms that I've 
> > seen include anger, aggressiveness, problems with authority, 
> > irritability, etc.  I'm not sure if Harry really is depressed, but 
> > he does have a number of symptoms that fit.  And he certainly has 
> > good *cause* to be depressed.

Doriane wrote:
> I agree. He's got the cause, he's got the symptoms, but I still don't 
> think he's got the problem. Mainly because his mental state doesn't 
> fit in. He's not in doubt about himself, whether he's able to do what 
> he has to, whether he's worthy to have/do/be whatever, whether he's 
> loved, etc... In short, he doesn't have a bad self-image (which is 
> quite a feat, considering all the abuse he went through !). He's got 
> fears and doubts, but not about himself. He doesn't doubt his 
> abilities. He's angry at his friends and Sirius for not taking him in 
> with them, but he never doubts their love for him. So I really don't 
> think he's depressed. He could be on the verge of it, though.

I don't know... All the things you list Harry as having are the exact
things that made me so sad for him no having throughout this book.  He
*does* doubt whether he is valued plenty in the first chapter--he
attempts to persuade himself that he's done plenty to prop himself up
out of the depths of thinking that Ron and Hermione and Sirius just
don't *need* him.  When he hears the crack on the street and is debating
the possibility of Apparition, he suddenly falls into a despair and
can't even trust his own belief that there may have been magic nearby.

And you can sure as hell bet that he's going to have some doubt of
himself at the beginning of the next.  Right now is one time that I'm
somewhat glad not to be in JKR's head, because I can't imagine the guilt
and doubt Harry putting himself through at Privet Drive right now.
<whimper> :(

--marilyn

-- 
http://marilyn.suburbanjihad.net/
  "Well--it's just that you seem to be laboring under the delusion that I am
 going to--what is the phrase? 'Come along quietly.' I am afraid I am not going
 to come quietly at all, Cornelius. I have absolutely no intention of being
 sent to Azkaban. I could break out, of course--but what a waste of time, and
 frankly, I can think of a whole host of things I would rather be doing."