Parenting Harry (was: Re: I don't like him much)

[Renee]

No: HPFGUIDX 120141


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "dumbledore11214" 
<dumbledore11214 at y...> wrote:
> 
> > Renee:
> 
> 
> snip.
>  
> On the other hand, I'm not sure that challenging Harry's tendency 
to 
> break the rules is presented as an altogether positive trait. 
> Especially not as Snape often does so for the wrong reasons (f.i. 
> thinking Harry's a arrogant, spoiled brat whose head is too big 
for 
> his shoulders). There seems to be strain of anarchy running 
through 
> the books, or at least the suggestion that breaking rules in a 
good 
> cause is better than sticking to them under all circumstances. In 
> fact, even Snape himself goes against authority in the person of 
> Umbridge when he judges it necessary. 
> 
> 
> 
> Alla:
> 
> Precisely, Renee. To me one of the main messages of the series 
that 
> for the good, noble purpose rules should be broken, could be 
brokem 
> and ARE broken.
> 
> Of course it depends on particular purpose and particular rule, 
but 
> I am not at all sure that JKR approves of Snape putting Harry down 
> for his rule breaking. That is just my take, of course.
> 
> Sure, when Harry breaks the rules for fun, then yes, but 
otherwise - 
> I am not sure.
> 
> 
> Just my opinion.

Renee:
Not just yours, Alla. What JKR shows is that Snape's motives for 
putting Harry down are less than pure; they're laced with antipathy. 
Harry knows this, and that's why Snape's method is so ineffective. 
Lupin's rebuke in PoA is effective precisely because Harry knows he 
has Lupin's sympathy (even though Lupin's rebuke is tainted, too, be 
it for a different reason; by his silence about Padfoot he endangers 
Harry just as much as Harry does himself sneaking around with the 
Marauder's Map).