[HPforGrownups] Re: Harry's sacrifice

[rayheuer3 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 58636

valkyrievixen at yahoo.com writes:

> Our hero is well reputed for his selfless sacrifices, and 
> justifiably. I agree with Kelly that in the Philosophers Stone story 
> Harry bravely chose fight or die offering up what could possibly be 
> his life for a greater good. 

I'm still waiting for an example of a sacrifice by Harry.  Harry is brave, 
and he takes risks, but I'm still convinced he takes those risks because he 
knows (or believes) he cannot be seriously harmed.

He's survived the AK curse, he's survived several face-to-face encounters 
with Voldemort, he survived the Tri-Wizard tournament and numerous Quidditch 
games without so much as a scar.  The one time he might have claimed a sacrifice 
(the "duel" with Voldemort in GoF), he again escaped unharmed!  Risk-takers can 
talk about sacrifice in the past tense (For example, Moody could claim to 
have sacrificed an eye to the fight against the Dark Forces), but they cannot 
claim that just taking risks is a "sacrifice".

Yes, Harry is brave.  Yes, Harry is a hero.  Like most heroes, he has 
companions willing to sacrifice themselves for him.  But Harry has yet to sacrifice 
anything.

  --  Ray


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