Cheering on Harry

[iris_ft]

No: HPFGUIDX 100847

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Hans Andréa 
<ibotsjfvxfst at y...> wrote:
Hans wrote:
"Just one last point: Kneasy recently said something about me seeing 
everything Harry did out of love, or something like that. (Kneasy, 
correct me). Once again, differently coloured glasses. If we see 
Harry as a teenage boy and interpret his actions literally, OK I 
agree, some of the things he does are completely wrong; for example 
reading Filch's letter (part 2?). But if we see Harry as an aspect 
of OURSELVES in the quest for the transformation, we can see that he 
indeed is a child of love in our own heart. Obviously to make the 
story the success it is, Jo has had to make Harry very human, 
complete with faults and teenage hormones and even hatred. That's 
the literal version. But when we see Harry as the Golden
Griffin (Gryffin d'or) struggling within us to fly away into the 
celestial
regions, we love Harry with our whole heart and mind. Then we can 
excuse his faults as just literary devices to make him so 
identifiable with "everyman" as a flawed human being.

Just a thought (with acknowledgements to Steve)"

Iris, trying not to add fuel to the flames:
It's good to read that post, especially because it is
 how will I 
say? `Serene' seems to be a good word.
I just would like to add that a literal interpretation and a 
symbolic interpretation are not necessarily two opposite things, 
especially in the Harry Potter series' case (and that's IMO where 
the power of the series roots). I agree that a symbolic reading 
level finally `simplifies' (mais oui!) many things (for instance 
it's a good way to understand what at first glance sounds like an 
inconsistency)).
However  even if we don't read the series from a symbolical point of 
view, even if we take it literally, we also can understand Harry and 
forgive his faults. Simply because he's a kid, a `human work in 
progress'. We forgive in real life, or at least we try to do it. It 
doesn't mean we are blind, or weak, and don't recognize the faults 
the others make. But we forgive, because we are not exempt from 
faults ourselves (even saints are not exempt from faults), and 
because we need to be forgiven too. It's not an esoteric processes, 
it's only a vital necessity. And it's finally more comfortable than 
grudge and hatred, even if it's not easy to do (I know what I'm 
talking about, but it will remain private).
It also helps move forward. I hope Harry will learn how to forgive, 
on the contrary he would be like Voldemort. Look what happened to 
Tom Marvolo Riddle, who didn't know how to forget, even to himself 
(for being half-blood, for being responsible for his mother's 
death): he didn't evolve, though he tried to gain power, though he 
changed his name and appearance. As I wrote on another group, if he 
were a painting, he would be a still life, a kind of vanity. He 
doesn't know how to forgive (because he's trying to escape from his 
own consciousness), or doesn't want to do it (because it makes him 
feel angry, and he probably imagines it is the condition sine qua 
non to remain strong and powerful). He's completely wrong, and as he 
is an adult and a maniac, he probably won't evolve any more. But 
Harry is only 15, so we can hope he will do better. Let's trust him, 
as we trust our kids.

Amicalement,

Iris