Why to Like and Not Like OoP

[meridocbrandybuck]

No: HPFGUIDX 70623

Hello,

I've read your arguements carefully. I'd like to point things out.

1. You seem to assume that every person repsonds in exactly the same 
way, or in a small variety of ways, to stimulas. Yet, if you work 
with troubled adolesncents you know that those who are faced with 
similar problems or have similar disorders, will respond in 
dissimilar ways. Yes, some teenagers become depressed, but of those, 
some withdraw and isolate, some become angry and agressive, and some 
try to prentend everything is okay.  And not all teenagers become 
depressed in response to tramau, just as not everyone develops ptsd. 
I think Rowling did a fairly good job protraying a Harry still 
troubled and haunted by Cedric's death and having to face Voldemort, 
but she didn't let him wallow in misery. You say it is not realistic 
behavior for someone with Harry's experiances, but I don't see how 
it conflicts with what we know of his personality already. Harry has 
not willingly gone to adults for help, even under desperate 
circumstances, and he has shown resilency to tramatic events in the 
past.


2.  AS for your arguements about the behavior of the other 
characters also being unrealistic---keep in mind that EVERYTHING in 
all the books is told from HARRY"S point of view. Sirius could very 
well have an internal struggle between doing what he knows is the 
safe, reasonable option and wanting to go out, to get some air. 
Dumbledore could have struggled every day, nay, every minute with 
his decision to alienate Harry, but since harry doesn't see 
Dumbledore almost at all during this story, and when he does see 
Dumbledore Harry is focused on Harry's needs and interprets what 
Dumbledore does through that need. 

Likewise, Ron could be struggling emotionally with being a prefect. 
Rowling hints at this herself when Hermoine gets up to admonish the 
twins, but Ron stays at the table looking ill at ease.  If we were 
to see the events and story from Ron's pov, it would look completely 
different.

Well, I'd better stop before I write a novel. I look forward to 
cotinued discussion on this topic.