seeking knowledge and keeping secrets-long

[angelberri56]

No: HPFGUIDX 80780

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "jwcpgh" 
<jwcpgh at y...> wrote:
>
> <snip>
> 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!).  <snip>
> 
> 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?


angelberri56: 

I can't really say why adults choose not to divulge certain 
information to kids... it's one of those mysteries of life... :>)  
(Either that or I just don't know!)

Yet, in HP, the only plausible reason i can think of for Harry 
finding out bits of information, instead of people just telling him, 
is because simply, Harry Potter is a book. More importantly, it is 
a story, and with all stories, the author chooses to let the reader 
discover the information in the author's own way. Basically, we 
are reading and discovering through Harry. If JKR just told us 
(Harry) straight out all we needed to know, well then it wouldn't 
be the teriffic book it is. Mystery books usually give you pieces of 
information along the way, leading you to solve the mystery just 
at the end. They build us up, making us want to read more. 

For example:

There's that one thread that has been pondered numerous 
times... why didn't Crouch/Moody just turn Harry's pillow or 
something into a portkey, why did he go through all that trouble to 
get Harry through the Tournament  just so he could touch the 
Cup?

Well, if Harry hadn't gone through the tournament, then we 
wouldn't really have a very interesting book on our hands, now 
would we?  *A story of a young wizard who goes to school, 
watches a wizard tournament at his school, and then is captured 
by Lord Voldemort...*    The whole plot has collapsed. 

So, what happens in books, we may not see as logical or 
sensible, but it is there for the purpose of pure enjoyment. 

-angelberri56 ,   who really hopes you followed what she was 
saying and are not asleep on your keyboard right now... 

- If anyone feels differently, please, I'd love to hear your opinion! 
Thanks!