2 Maddening Questions

[charlot7542]

No: HPFGUIDX 91273

> Cassie wrote:
> Though it brings up an interesting thought: Harry never turns to an 
> adult for help. Except for Sirius, of course. Perhaps he constantly 
> wants to prove himself--even to himself.
> 
> Bookworm wrote:
> My take on this is that Harry has been conditioned to think there is 
> no one he can go to for help.  Even though he has been at Hogwarts 
> for five years, those first 11 years – well, 10 actually – with the 
> Dursleys would have been imprinted on his psyche. And when no one 
> tells him anything after the graveyard scene, it only reinforces 
> what he has known his whole life – he can't count on anyone else for 
> help, except Ron and Hermione who urged him to tell someone.


Now Charlotte:
I'd agree with both these ideas - Harry has been conditioned not to 
ask for help from years of living with the Dursleys and additionally 
has a desire to prove himself (the two are probably connected). I'd 
also say however, that there's a degree of arrogance, which stops 
him from asking for help. We see constantly in OotP Harry 
maintaining, because of past success, that he's actually better at 
dealing with things on his own - that essentially he doesn't need 
help because he is the best/most talented. (What Hermione would 
refer to as his "saving people" or hero complex). Of course with the 
error in judgement that leads to the death of Sirius, he learns that 
this is not necessarily the case. Ironically at the same time he 
discovers the prophecy, which confirms that it is indeed he alone 
that will have to save the world, just when his previous confidence 
has suffered its worst blow. Very harsh indeed....I knew there was a 
reason I loved this series.

Charlotte.