seeking knowledge and keeping secrets-long

[jwcpgh]

No: HPFGUIDX 80754

I just finished reading a collection of essays on HP called "Harry 
Potter's World", edited by Elizabeth Heilman.  One essay, called "The 
Seeker of Secrets:  Images of Learning, Knowing and Schooling" by a 
professor at Purdue named Charles Elster, caught my attention in 
particular. In the essay, Elster says

"Adults are depicted as routinely hiding knowledge from children.  
This situation begins with the Dursleys...Other adults...seem to want 
to 'protect' Harry from knowing the awful truth of Voldemort's 
intentions toward him.  [He then refers to the conversation between 
Molly and Arthur in the Leaky Cauldron in PoA.]...Professor 
Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwards School and the epitome of the 
powerful, good wizard, is an ambiguous figure in the Harry Potter 
books.  Although he is reputed to be very powerful...his approach to 
protection seems laissez-faire or devious.  He exists as the 
standoffish God who seems to have a plan for good people to prove 
they can vanquish evil.  He rarely helps directly, although he 
occasionally appears in order to provide information, as when Harry 
discovers the Mirror of Erised.  Dumbledore shares the secret 
knowledge that Harry seeks, but he does nothing to assist 
Harry...Harry is Adam to Dumbledore's God.  Like Adam (and 
Prometheus) he is destined to steal (rather than be given) essential 
knowledge.  And he avoids going to talk to Dumbledore when he 
suspects that Voldemort and his helpers are near...Important 
kmowledge, knowledge connected to the solution of mysteries and the 
accomplishment of the evil-foiling quest, is depicted in the Harry 
Potter books as hidden knowledge.  It is the hero's role to actively 
seek, uncover, and use secret knowledge despite interferences..." 

A few points:  first, this essay was published before OoP came out.  
Second, Elster does acknowledge that there are a few adults who 
willingly share (at least some) information with Harry; Remus, Fake!
Mad Eye and Sirius. (Even "yes, that is my job" Snape actually tells 
Harry things sometimes.) Third, Elster goes on to point out that 
Harry often has to obtain information by somewhat underground means-
eavesdropping, using the Invisibility Cloak, watching people's 
pensieve thoughts and so forth.  And when Harry tries to communicate 
what he's learned, he's often met with disbelief.

This whole line of discussion really struck me.  Why is it that 
adults would want to hide information from children (especially at a 
school, for Pete's sake!).  One of the things you always read in 
parenting manuals (at least the good ones) is that you should 
*always* answer a child's direct question.  Sure, you might not want 
to give a completely detailed answer (a 5 year old doesn't really 
want to know about the mechanics of sex when s/he asks where babies 
come from).  And sometimes you have to say, "I don't know,"  which 
seems to strike terror in the hearts of many adults.  But an honest 
admission that you don't know is more respectful than blowing the kid 
off or lying.

So when Harry asks DD a direct question about LV in PS/SS and DD 
refuses to answer, he's making a terrible mistake that sets him up to 
repeat it in the next 3 books, until both Harry and Sirius have paid 
the cost.  And don't even get me started about Molly and her constant 
infantilizing (is that a word?) of her children and Harry. 
McGonagall, Hagrid...These adults should know perfectly well that the 
kids are going to get information one way or another.  The choice 
isn't whether or not they'll find things out, but whether they'll 
find out the complete set of facts or have to rely on rumor, 
guesswork, overheard tidbits and each other to cobble together some 
information.  And we know how easy it is for kids to put what they 
think they know together and come to completely the wrong conclusion.

What is it about knowledge that makes grownups (both in HP and in the 
RW) so reluctant to share it?  Is it that knowledge is power and 
adults don't want to give up their power over children?  Is it 
laziness?  embarrassment?  inability to find the right words?  sheer 
stupidity?

Any thoughts on this?  I find it very disturbing.

Laura, who is happy to get back into literary analysis after way too 
many years...