[HPforGrownups] Re: Depression and Harry in OotP -- PTSD

[Shaun Hately]

No: HPFGUIDX 110900

On 22 Aug 2004 at 9:17, naamagatus wrote:

> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "tonks_op" <tonks_op at y...> 
> wrote:
> > --------------------------------------------------
> > 
> > I don't think anyone read the post I did last night.
> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/110801
> > 
> > Harry is not clinically depressed, he has PTSD.
> 
> I agree with you (that Hary is not clinically depressed). Harry is a 
> fictional character - his symptoms cannot indicate anything other 
> than the author's intent. Now, we know that in PoA JKR specifically 
> intended the Dementors as a metaphor of depression. She said so in 
> interviews, and it's also clear from the description: they take away 
> the ability to feel or even remember happiness.
> In OoP Harry is not descreibed as experiencing any such thing. He is 
> angry, upset, sad, frustrated - but nothing like the effect Dementors 
> have. Therefore, JKR did not intend to portray Harry as suffering 
> from depression.

The only major problem I can see with this argument is that it 
assumes that J.K. Rowling regards depression as something with only 
one single set of symptoms - and that is something we cannot know.

This list has over the last few days rather graphically illustrated 
the fact that depression can take multiple different forms - that 
people have quite significantly different views about what 
depression is and what depression isn't. And at least some of the 
people here (including myself) are clearly of the opinion that 
depression can exist with different types of symptoms.

It's perfectly possible and plausible that J.K. Rowling shares this 
belief. She may believe that there are different forms of 
depression. She may believe that there are different symptoms or 
groups of symptoms of depression. Or, she could, as you seem to be 
assuming, believe there is only one form of depression.

The major point is, we can't *know* what her views on depression 
are - and so the argument that the authors intent is what counts, 
doesn't really prove one thing or the other.


> I'm not sure whether she specifically intended to portray him as 
> suffering from PTSD, but I do think that the symptoms he shows are 
> closer to PTSD (although I'm not an expert). Also, the fact is that 
> he had gone through a severely traumatic event - not only was he 
> captured and his life threatenend, Wormtail taking his blood and 
> having to see Voldemort rise again - I think it's a form of rape. Add 
> to that the sudden, meaningless death of Cedric... as I've said 
> before, although things will get worse in the WW, I don't think that 
> Harry personally will go through anything as horrific as that. Even 
> Sirius' death, although more painful, hasn't got that off the charts 
> level of horror.

People talking about PTSD should just bear in mind that PTSD is 
often - not always, but often - accompanied by depression. It's not 
an either/or situation. A person can - and fairly often does - have 
both.


Yours Without Wax, Dreadnought
Shaun Hately | www.alphalink.com.au/~drednort/thelab.html
(ISTJ)       | drednort at alphalink.com.au | ICQ: 6898200 
"You know the very powerful and the very stupid have one
thing in common. They don't alter their views to fit the 
facts. They alter the facts to fit the views. Which can be 
uncomfortable if you happen to be one of the facts that 
need altering." The Doctor - Doctor Who: The Face of Evil
Where am I: Frankston, Victoria, Australia