I don't like him much

[Barry Arrowsmith]

No: HPFGUIDX 119939

There's recently been a clutch of threads expressing concern over 
Harry, worrying about his emotions both past and future and about the 
failings of the adults in the books for daring to be out of step with 
the disobedient, lying little scrote.

Young Potter is the eponymous hero and the viewpoint we get from the 
books is his. And not by any stretch of the imagination can that 
viewpoint be considered as unbiased. If Harry doesn't like something, 
then it must obviously be wrong; if somebody disagrees with Harry, then 
they are wrong. Rubbish. Harry is the one that's usually wrong - with 
unerring and boring predictability.

He'd never admit it, of course; he'll try and justify his actions, 
splattering blame on everyone else within shouting distance. The 
annoying thing is, DD goes along with it, even placing blame where none 
could reasonably be laid - just to salve Harry's feelings. Bloody 
silly; it's storing up  trouble for the future.

One of the many definitions of adulthood is being willing to accept 
responsibility for one's own actions. OK, he's not an  adult yet, 
though some posters seem to think he should be  regarded as such, even 
though  he has never shown any sign of acting like an adult. But the 
teenage years are when the pattern for the future adult is generally 
set. And young Potter has received zero guidance in the art of growing 
up. Everything is impulse and emotions. Fairly predictable at 16; the 
worrying thing is that there's no hint of any maturity that may develop 
and be his saving grace in the future. All I see is another Sirius in 
the making.

The only people who have placed any meaningful restrictions on him at 
all are the ones he hates. And there's an arguable case for stating 
that the reason he hates them is because they restrict him. It's a very 
childlike attitude. Unlikeable too.  We all know folks that act like 
this - are they popular? No. Do they  make good friends? No. Wouldn't 
you just love to see them get their come-uppance? Ooh, yes!

What DD feared is  coming to pass -  Harry is starting to believe his 
own publicity. Being Harry Potter is sufficient justification in his 
eyes for doing, thinking, almost anything. If things turn out well, the 
plaudits rain down, when it's "50 points to Gryffindor!" (even though 
what happened was usually a combination of luck and outside influences) 
his self-regard inflates another notch.

Despite DD's fears and his attempts to prevent them coming to fruition, 
young Potter is regarded as something special in the WW - and he knows 
it.  What hasn't sunk in yet is the price he's eventually going to have 
to pay. He's considered as special for a reason - he lived when he 
should have died; and he's going to have to do it again, only this time 
without the protective spells that saved him before.  It'll be 
interesting to see if he can cope with the concept of going looking for 
Voldy rather than, as up to now, falling over him and doing his 
damnedest to get out from under.

He'll probably manage it, unless JKR decides to wipe him out, the 
all-too-common reward for heroes in the sagas (after all, what's the 
use of an ex-hero?). But unless he shows some marked changes I can't  
see myself ever liking him as a character.

Kneasy