Birth, Doubt, Fear, Pride, Disillusionment

[Wanda Sherratt]

No: HPFGUIDX 79742

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "susanbones2003" <rdas at f...> 
wrote:
> I want to take issue with the idea that Harry is always playing 
the 
> hero. I think that is a red herring sort of charge to make against 
> him. He has been in situations in the past that demanded he take 
> action and he did. In some instances he was drafted. In POA, it 
was 
> only him (and Hermione) who could effect any different outcome (at 
> least as it was presented to him by Dumbledore). In GOF, he never 
> asked to be placed in the Tournament and he did as he was told to 
do 
> for the most part. It was only at the end that he tried to be 
> honorable and it got him thrust into a horrific situation. The 
first 
> two books demonstrate his most heroic acts. No one asked him to 
> confront Lord Voldemort but he saw himself as having unique 
knowledge 
> and felt he must act. Playing the hero is something calculated to 
> gain attention. Harry never did that. He wanted to save people, 
Ginny 
> for instance. He'd have gone along with Ron to the Chamber had 
> circumstances not separated them. Harry never played the hero. 
Maybe 
> he miscalculated the best course of action in OOP but he never 
played 
> the hero.

I do think, however, that in OotP there is a change of tone in 
Harry's heroics; he suddenly seems *self-conscious* in a rather 
unpleasant way.  He broods bitterly about his experiences; he loudly 
recites his exploits to his friends when they all arrive at 
Grimmauld Place; he makes a point of emphasizing that HE is the one 
who did everything, ignoring the help he received from others.  He's 
no longer the self-effacing Harry Potter who just thinks of others - 
he's developed an ego, and it's not a pretty sight.  I think 
Hermione is picking up on this change in tone when she comments on 
his "hero" tendency; it's not just that Harry wants to help others, 
it's that he can't imagine himself in any other role.  It's not for 
him to sit still and be obedient - he's *Harry Potter*, and that 
means rushing into action no matter what.  He's right when she first 
suggests the DA, and he tells her that most of the time he had no 
idea what to do, he had help, or he just got lucky.  Unfortunately, 
that clarity of thought is all too brief, and soon he's his old, 
impulsive self again.

Wanda