OoP: Harry's Curious Lack of Curiosity

[srbeers]

No: HPFGUIDX 60512

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "mmemalkin" <mmemalkin at y...> wrote:
> ... spoilers, there is one reference to the publicity release 
> Scholastic made when they announced the publication date.  
> 
> JKR has said that in OoP "Harry has to ask some questions that I 
> hope the reader will think, 'Well why hasn't he asked that before?'"
> 
> I've wondered since PS/SS why Harry doesn't ask questions about his 
> parents. ...ediited... I'm beginning to suspect he's under an 
> Imperius Curse not to ask. 
> 
> ...edited...
> 
> So, is there anything to this?  And what should I call the theory?
> 
> ~Diane
> Eschewing obfuscation

srb:

Well, I certainly can't say that you are wrong, but I think the
reasons for not asking lie more in emotion than in magic.

First, Harry has been conditioned, by the Dursleys and others, not to
ask. Part of this conditioning is ingrained in him as a part of his
abused child character profile. He is reserved and independant, he has
no reason to trust adult, or believe that they are people he can turn
to for comfort. Although, as Harry grows and is less influenced by the
Dursleys, we see this aspect of his character improving, I suspect
since it has occurred from nearly the beginning of his life, it will
always be an aspect of his personality.

Next, sometimes we desparately do not what to hear, what we would
desparately like to know. The questions Harry is not asking are not
going to be very pleasant questions to hear the answers to. Why
doesn't Voldemort want to kill me? Was it my fault my parents were
killed? Am I responsible for all this tragedy? What's going to happen
to me? etc... etc... etc... These are all very deep emotional issues,
and it's easy to see why anyone, even though they were desparate to
know the answers, would avoid asking the questions. In this area, I
see Harry very conflicted. A part of him deep inside is aching to
know, but another part of him is afraid to know. Solution; at least
for a little boy, avoid the issue altogether.

Just a thought.

srb