Adults "failing" Harry (was: Themes in OotP)

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 119917


 
> SSSusan:
snip
 So,I agree with you that some of these people's actions were 
> understandable.  I wish they'd looked at whether they were 
actually *helpful* to Harry, though.  And DD... well, the more I 
think about this, the more I guess I really do think he goofed up.


Potioncat(taking two steps from the characters and looking at the 
books:

Of course the adults let Harry down.  They've done in every book.  
If they didn't the books wouldn't be about Harry Potter, they would 
be about Dumbledore or about the different members of the Order.

I think JKR has written very stong adult characters...we all seem to 
have strong opinions about them...but she still has to have them 
fail in some way.  She's done a nice job of creating flaws, 
misunderstandings, ill will between characters so that in some 
believable way these powerful witches and wizards drop the ball and 
Harry has to run with it. 

How many insipid children's books, wait, make that insipid books for 
children...have I read that have the goofiest, most inept adults 
you've ever seen! And of course they all end with episode 32 coming 
very soon to a bookstore near you...

But JKR's adults are capable..except for certain moments or for 
certain reasons, or within certain limits.  Lupin wanted to help, 
but he can't bring himself to tell secrets from his school days, and 
he forgets his potion, putting the students at risk.  Snape wants to 
defeat LV, but he can't overcome his animosity for Harry. A little 
trust would have helped in OoP!!  Molly wants to help, but she sees 
him as a child (I can't blame her, I wouldn't be eager for my 15 
year old to take on DEs) We can go on and on...

And come to think of it, how many times have we adults in the RW 
failed some kid?  Hopefully not to the dangerous extent as in these 
books, but to some level? And how many times has it turned out OK 
anyway?  

Erm...does anyone have a good closing paragraph to put here?
Potioncat