Harry and rite of passage

[dudemom_2000]

No: HPFGUIDX 63874

I have seen in many posts that people find Book 5 disturbing. I,too, 
found it disturbing but after a lot of thought I think I know why. 
The other books dealt with children who react to the world through 
their innocence. Harry is innocent on many levels - he is innocent 
in the muggle world because the Dursleys keep him from being exposed 
to many things emotional and physical and he is innocent in the 
wizard world because of his total lack of exposure. He has a sense 
of wonder about all he discovers. Book 5 is a rite of passage for 
Harry because he becomes an adult and makes adult decisions. 
Physically and emotionally he is still a child but we see that 
changing too. The centaurs recognize it when (US P. 756) the centaur 
remarks that Harry is nearing manhood. He recognizes Harry no longer 
has the innocence of a child in his dealings with the world. Harry 
has taken a big step. For me, reading the first books will never be 
the same because of what I know now, so maybe JK has taken us, the 
reader, on our own right of passage through Harry's story.

My 2 Knuts (and maybe a Galleon)

*****\(@@)/*****

Dudemom_2000