Harry's Temper Was Re: Feelings on OoP

[boyd_smythe]

No: HPFGUIDX 80353

> > Melanie:
> > However, I believe that now Harry will move to a more introverted 
> way of venting.  I think the scariest thing that is going to happen 
> in the next books is that Harry will pull away from his family and 
> friends.  I believe that with my whole heart that he will force 
> himself to stop loving.  He does not want to be the cause of another 
> loved ones death.  I think this is not only the most dangerous 
> outcome that will likely result, but I think that it will quite 
> possibly the most sickening for Harry. 
> > ~Melanie


> Golly:
> (I can't think of anyone who would have considered temper tantrums 
and Harry suddenly developing a heaping amount of arrogance.)  Of 
course it is up to every reader to decide whether they think this 
unique turn is for good or ill, but I think remembering our past is 
important.
> Why believe that will happen now when it didn't happen before?
> Golly


I've been bothered by Harry's feelings now for some time, but have had 
trouble putting my finger on it. Until this thread (thanks!).

Harry has been through some very awful experiences that have been 
well-cited before (parents lost as an infant, lived in the Dursleys' 
closet, multiple near-death experiences, vilified by the news and 
shunned by his peers on more than one occasion, nearly thrown in 
Azkaban for defending himself, singled out for punishment by cruel 
teachers, et al). And much, if not all, of this was caused by 
people.

No one in positions of power ever defended him as much as they could 
have, and authority figures, in general, have been colossal failures 
to Harry: the MoM, aurors, teachers, the OoP, even Dumbledore, who 
coddles him and hides the truth continually. Harry has literally had 
to take care of himself against all of them.

So when will he finally get good and pissy about it? Why not yell at 
Dumbledore, "Tell me everything!" The next time Snape messes with him, 
why not say, "Go hang yourself with your grey underpants"? Why not 
shout from the highest mountain that he doesn't care about any of them 
any more? Why not yell at every wizard he sees for not protecting him 
from the everyday cruelty of the Dursleys?

I'm waiting for him to explode, but he doesn't. Is he really that 
perfect? JKR seems to want us to believe that he's not that different 
in many ways from most kids. As pointed out earlier in the thread, he 
does have tantrums and he lashes out a few times at authority. But he 
mostly just takes it.

And for him to go from just taking it from everyone to standing up to 
LV, the most powerful wizard of a generation, is a *very* big step. 
And JKR has just two books to do it.

My guess is that he will act out more in the first half of book 6 
against at least some of the authority figures. Particularly the 
Dursleys, now that they've been warned. But all of that cleansing, 
self-affirming rage at the cruelty of others must come out.

I think it'll directly precede something truly horrible happening (DD 
betrayal/death is my favorite), after which Harry will blame himself 
(with some reason) and then withdraw as you mention, Melanie.

-Remnant