Harry : compassion vs saving-people thing

[annemehr]

No: HPFGUIDX 114883


 
> Annemehr wrote :
> " I can believe, compassion *and* a saving-people thing, but I can't
> believe Harry has no compassion."
> 
> Del replies :
> Wow, wow !! I never meant to say that Harry has no compassion at all !
> I was just arguing against the opinions that a) he's got an
> exceptional amount of compassion, and b) that's what makes him save
> people's lives.
> 
> Del

Annemehr:
Awww... 
<rereads Del's original post>

Okay, I see, in your examples you said Harry doesn't care *much,* that
people's feelings aren't his primary concern.  So you did leave room
for some compassion. Sorry!

By the way, I do have another example of a time when Harry really
should have shown compassion but didn't: in PoA, the time he was about
to sneak off to Hogsmeade, encountered Neville (who, just like Harry,
was also forbidden to go), and he ditched him.  Definitely one of
Harry's worst moments.

I'm just left with the question of what exactly the heroism is, if
it's not motivated by compassion (not even a half-blind sort of
compassion that only kicks in when extreme peril is involved). It's
not thrill-seeking, otherwise the TWT would have been more thrilling.
 Could it be a sublimated reaction to his parents' murder coming out?
 Some form of his feeling that he's the only one he can count on,
extended to a feeling that he's the only one he can count on to do
what's necessary when people are in danger?  I'm not ascribing these
ideas to you -- I'm just trying to imagine motives to playing the hero
that don't involve him caring about the potential victims.  Can you
elaborate?

It's always been my attributing Harry's willingness to go into danger
to save others that made me believe Harry was very compassionate.  I
figured he risked his own life because he cared so much about the life
of the other.  If you can explain how that might not be true, that he
plays the hero for some other reason, I'll understand you much better,
I think.  :)

Annemehr