Good moral core (Re: Dirty Harry/Clean Harry)

[delwynmarch]

No: HPFGUIDX 117216


Geoff wrote :
" Harry finds at this point that sharing time, thoughts, experiences 
 and material things produces a "feel-good factor". There are other 
places as the story progresses which reinforce this: becoming the 
Quidditch seeker comes to mind. He is quickly finding that being 
pleasant, doing good things and being with friends is more uplifting 
than sinking into despair or following the Riddle line and becoming a
self-seeker. By doing this, Tom is denying himself the knowledge of 
real friendship. His only support comes from fear or sycophantic 
followers and so he effectively isolates himself from anything good or
positive."

Del replies :
Agreed, this worked for Harry. But :

1. Harry first had to do those things *for no reason* before he
discovered they produced good feelings in him. He had *no reason* to
share his pasties with Ron when he did it.

2. Because it worked on Harry and it would work on most people doesn't
mean it worked/would have worked on Tom. *If* Tom really didn't
receive any love in his infancy, then he was *way more* damaged
emotionally than Harry ever was. If he never bonded as an infant, then
he would have had immense problems bonding later on. Harry was
unconsciously eagerly *waiting* for an opportunity to bond. If Tom had
never bonded before, then he would not have been open to bonding
later. That's why I have a problem with the way JKR's writing LV : she
makes him out to be a human monster, not a real person.

Geoff wrote :
"Looking further at the suggestion that Harry is headstrong and rushes
into situations, how often do we do something which, in hindsight, 
looks foolhardy or dangerous? Taking the Chamber of Secrets as an 
example, apart from going with Ron (and Lockhart), what alternatives 
were there? The message on the wall implies that Ginny was in mortal 
danger. So who does Harry approach? He could go to Dumbledore who 
might well place the tips of his fingers together while he cogitated 
for some long time; McGonagall would probably look severe and  dither... 

If he then persuaded them to come, it would emerge that a Parseltongue
speaker was needed to open the Chamber and can you imagine Dumbledore
or McGonagall going down the slide?"

Del replies :
I personally have no problem imagining DD or McGonagall going down the
slide.

Maybe those two would not have listened if Harry had just told them he
knew where the opening of the Chamber of Secrets was (though DD is a
Legilimens, so he would have known Harry was telling the truth). But
once Harry did open the slide, I have no doubt that all the teachers
would have followed him if only he had gone to fetch them.

Del