OOP: Feeling Depressed (includes spoilers)

[abeeson20]

No: HPFGUIDX 64982


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "findmeabargain" 
<findmeabargain at y...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Lucy" <moochy4ro at h...> wrote:
> > Is anyone feeling a bit depressed since reading the book. I dont 
> > know what it is but Rowling has the ability to make the books 
feel 
> > like real life. 
> 
> Rowling suffers from bouts of depression (a real illness) and has 
> been upfront about it - more real life. 
> 
> If a person is blessed enough to be able to work thru a depressive 
> state (with or without pharmacological assistance) he quickly 
learns 
> to focus on the positive possibilities to help keep the depression 
> at bay.
> 
> Thus the resolutely upbeat final scene in which Harry's adopted-
> family have closed ranks in a firm stand against the Dursleys, and 
> Harry is *leading* his blood (shudder!) relations out of the train 
> station.
> 
> He is bereaved, but not bereft. He is lonely in the Muggle world, 
> but by no means alone.
> 
> Does that help? 8)
> 
> -findmeabargain

I believe that one must also recognize that while he has lost his 
Godfather, he has gained an immense amount of friendship and 
loyalties from other individuals.  

Consider for a moment the bond that he has created with Neville 
Longbottom over the course of this novel. Neville morphed from a 
background character, into Harry's semi-circumstantial brother.  Now 
Neville may not be aware of this circumstance, but Harry now realizes 
that this poor victim of every possible malady is in essence tied to 
him through their parents and the time of their birth.  These common 
bonds are ones that Hermoine and Ron cannot claim and thus another 
special bond is born for Harry.  

Now there is the dramitic leap forward that Harry's bond to 
Dumbledore has taken.  Prior to this book, people did not and could 
not understand the strength of the true bond from Dumbledore to 
Harry.  It seemed that AD kept his distance from HP and until the 
final chapters of OoP we did not know that he was keeping his 
distance because he felt it was the best thing for HP.  Now AD 
believes that he made a mistake and he should be taking a much more 
active and mentoring roll with HP.  What does the future hold for 
this relationship?

There is also the possibility that the Order will be significantly 
more important characters to Harry's future relationships.  How many 
of these individuals are going to feel significantly stronger ties to 
HP now that he has lost the three closest people in his life, and ALL 
of them were their comrades in arms.  Clearly you may find that a 
significant contingent of the Order will be feeling it necessary for 
them to take on an adoptive parental roll in HP life.  Much like 
Sirius did.

I believe that this text has opened a plethora of options for JKR to 
take advantage of and expand this story to new levels.  My one worry 
is that she will not take advantage of the many ideas that we all 
have and thus we will find disappointment in the future.  Although I 
think that has already happened from many people on these boards.

Adam Beeson