[HPforGrownups] An odd musing on Harry's attitude

[artsylynda at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 53920

imhotep1:

> Sometimes they [HRH] make good
> decisions, and sometimes they make poor ones (such as Harry's continued
> distrust of Snape.) 

There's an old expression (I don't know if it's uniquely American or not, but 
here it is anyway):  "Burn me once, shame on you.  Burn me twice, shame on 
me" that I think applies to Harry's attitude.  I have no problem with Harry.  
His manners are wonderful considering how he's grown up.  He's a kid (we have 
to remember this) and acts like a realistic kid (great writing, JKR!), with 
hopes, dreams, short attention span at times, frustration with homework and 
bullies, giggles and the occasional spat.  For the most part, he's polite, 
quiet, reserved, respectful even when the person doesn't deserve it (Snape -- 
Harry DOES bite his tongue on a great many *comments* he could make, quite 
often, just not on *all* of them -- but then he'd be a saint, and that 
wouldn't be very realistic).  He's been the victim of Snape's wrath 
innumerable times without responding except to burn inside (and yes, I know 
he responds sometimes, but not all the time).  Yes, Snape saved his life, and 
that's tremendously important, but the daily mistreatment Harry and the other 
Gryffendors suffer at Snape's hands. . .well, Harry is one of those people 
who have a strong sense of justice, and Snape is one of the most unjust 
people I can imagine in a school setting (or elsewhere, for that matter).  
He's been burned by Snape way more than once.  Being "burned" by Snape once 
was warning enough.  Now Harry's in "protective" mode -- if he gets "burned" 
again, and there was any way for Harry to avoid it, then it *might* be 
Harry's own fault he got whatever mistreatment he received (because he didn't 
heed the warning of the other times Snape's mistreated him).  Harry does his 
best (MOST of the time) to avoid provoking Snape, which is a sign of 
character and intelligence.  Some kids would just blow up under such 
provocation on a regular basis -- Harry doesn't.  Harry has grown up with 
nobody to protect him or look out for him but himself -- I can't see him 
doing anything differently now that he's out in the world.  He's been 
"trained" (by his life experience) to think for himself, protect himself, 
look after himself.  He's still doing that, and with increasing independence 
as his maturity and skills grow.  Maybe that's how the wizarding world needs 
him to grow, so he'll be able to think for himself and not give in to those 
"in authority" simply because they're in authority (Fudge, for instance, who 
proved in GoF that he doesn't deserve any respect).  "Heroes" rarely follow 
"normal" paths of showing respect for those in authority -- they rise to meet 
challenges without asking permission of those in authority (or anyone else).  
That's part of what makes them heroes.  They'd be considered foolish 
risk-takers (as Hermione thought of Harry and Ron before the troll incident 
made them best friends) if they weren't *successful* at meeting those 
challenges -- I guess there's a fine line between heroes and fools sometimes. 
 JMHO

Lynda 
* * *
"Don't let  the Muggles get you down." Ron Weasley PoA


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]