Re: Harry enjoying his friends’ pain (was: Harry's disposition)

[sienna291973]

No: HPFGUIDX 94635

> Tuesday, March 30, 2004, 5:11:23 PM, nkafkafi wrote:

> > The real issue 
> > IMO is the fact that in OotP, Harry takes pleasure in his 
friends'
> > pain.

Susanne:
> I guess I'm not getting too worried, because I feel that
> there are very few, if any, humans on earth who can
> truthfully say they've never had this momentary feeling.
> 
> This "serves you right" feeling, or coming back with a
> cutting remark after getting hurt by something the other
> person said or did.
> 
> I don't think this turns Harry into someone sinister, unless
> it becomes more and more prevalent, and he decides to act on
> these feelings, thinking them justified.
> 
> It was the same with Ron's one instance of letting jealousy
> blind him. He'd never shown any signs before, and I thought
> it was humanly impossible for him to not have an occasional
> pang of envy, sometimes.

Sienna:

I have to agree here. I personally thought that it was a very well 
crafted reaction on JKR's part.  As I was reading it, the feeling 
that she was describing came very clearly into my memory.  I think 
it's safe to say that we have all, and not just once, felt this way 
at some point.

As I said before, I consider that he is an amazingly compassionate 
and understanding person given that he has never had anyone to learn 
these things from. In addition, I believe he forgives his friends 
very easily (far more easily than I would have).  They are none of 
them operating under the extreme pressures that Harry is, and a 
little more foresight and compassion on their part would not be 
unwelcome. 

Ron's bout of jealousy in my opinion was far worse, because 
(frankly) he has none of the excuses that Harry does.

Sienna