Harry : compassion vs saving-people thing

[redlena_web]

No: HPFGUIDX 114909


Lady Macbeth:
 
> And age 10-11 is when, according to Sociology standards,
> children are supposed to be entering this phase of
> understanding - compassion - in being able to identify with
> the feelings of others.  It's why we have to tell TODDLERS 
> things like, "How would you feel if she hit you?" or "How would 
> you feel if someone broke YOUR toy?"  Age 5-10, while they're 
> in elementary school, comprises development of this skill - it's
> generally accepted that by age 11, they should be starting to 
> hone that skill, not just beginning to learn it.
> 

> 
> He's 15 going on 16 at the end of OotP - he should be
> MASTERING the skills of compassion (developmentally) rather
> than just starting to learn them.

RedLena:
Everything you've said here is true...for the normal emotional 
development of a child.  Harry has not had a normal emotional 
development.

At the age of 15 months, his parents were killed in his presence 
(or, in the case of James...within earshot, at least).  He is then 
deposited in the home of the unloving Dursleys who, at some 
point between Harry's arrival and the start of SS/PS provide him 
with the cupboard under the stairs as his bedroom, routinely 
ignore him, and allow their son to bully him mercilessly.

I don't think it's unreasonable to presume that Harry did not 
receive the typical guidance about compassion and empathy that 
most children learn from their parents in this unloving 
environment.

The way Harry is initially described in the first book (I don't have 
my books with me for an exact quote, sorry) always gave me the 
impression of a somewhat stunted physical development (which 
later made the discovery of his skill with Quidditch that much 
more gratifying... one more thing overcoming the shortfalls of his 
Muggle life, but I digress).  I believe that was coupled with a 
stunted emotional development as well.

If Harry hasn't grasped the typical understanding of compassion 
for his age, it isn't his fault.

-- RedLena