Harry

[Barry Arrowsmith]

No: HPFGUIDX 116219

Another character assessment/profile - sort of.
More a series of impressions, reflections of what  we see on the page, 
than a consideration of origins and causes, so a lot  less theorising - 
  which will please some.

While it's not particularly unusual for a stand-alone novel to document 
the 'coming of age' of an individual or group, it  is uncommon for such 
a development to be described almost in real time by a series - an 
unbroken year-by-year sequence; the only hiatuses being (apparently) 
the result of the sheer physical impossibility of producing a book 
every year.

In one way that's a pity; it would have been fascinating to hear the 
responses of fans who had aged at the same rate as Harry; who started 
the books aged 11 and finished the series aged 18. Fascinating too, 
that JKR finds book series where the children aren't allowed to grow up 
'sinister'. Not for Harry the security and familiarity of an unchanging 
world, nor indeed the security and familiarity of an unchanging Harry 
for the reader.

As the series progresses the themes shift too, reflecting Harry's 
realisation that the world is not a simple, black and white, easily 
categorised place. All part of growing up, of learning to cope, of 
shedding the childlike view that the world revolves around you.
Life isn't fair, it isn't equitable, just rewards or desserts are not 
guaranteed, and so it is for Harry. His life so far hasn't been a bed 
of roses and though he shows a remarkable level of acceptance of and 
resilience to the way he's been treated, along the way he's also been 
presented with knowledge, information that he'd really rather not have 
to assimilate but that sooner or later he'll have to come to terms 
with.

While the POV presented is almost  exclusively Harry's, the readers and 
fans addicted to sites like this inevitably put their own spin on plot 
developments and revelations. Usually, though not always, this involves 
considerations of how the revealed nugget will affect the plot; it's 
less common to ask what will be the effect on Harry or his view of the 
world.

I'm not a  fan of assigning RW psychological theories of cause and 
effect to fictional characters; it's a losers game IMO. Harry can't be 
compared to a real child in his treatment or his reactions. The only 
viewpoint we have is Harry's and he obviously considers that his view 
is perfectly reasonable. There is zero objectivity. For those that 
enjoy worrying about such matters this could be considered a definite 
drawback; but no matter, they'll go ahead and do it anyway.

Emotions aren't Harry's big thing; sure he has some, but they're 
generally used to add a quick, bright splash of colour to a scene or 
encounter - mostly anger, recently.  Consider; Harry has supposedly led 
a life of utter misery for 10 years at Privet Drive. Has he ever cried? 
A real child would. But despite emphasising how horrible it all was, 
JKR has never underlined the misery with tears. Similarly with the 
wider background; a crowd of 11 year olds leave home for a strange 
place full of strangers. With no homesickness. Unreal in our world, but 
quite acceptable within the confines of the story. Emotions are a tool 
for the author, not a textbook representation of a characters psyche. 
If they're not useful in a given situation, they're ignored.

No; Harry isn't a great one for introspection. There's some thought of 
course, got to be, otherwise we wouldn't have a clue of what he's 
liable to do next, or why. But this is separate from the cliched 
brooding teenage angst of "Why does everybody hate me?" Harry already 
knows why people hate him - and it doesn't seem to bother him much that 
they do. He gets by quite satisfactorily with hating them back.

This would be seen as a definite failing in our world where it would be 
considered as 'judgemental', 'inappropriate' or any one of a list of 
similar terms and the 'sufferer' would be urged to delve into the 
relationships, look for motivations, see the other's point of view, try 
modify their behaviour or to seek a compromise. Can you imagine what 
all the Harry - Draco confrontations would result in outside the WW? A 
pile of files, profiles, assessments and recommendations three feet 
high. Fortunately we're spared this modern obsession with forcing all 
to conform with a pre-determined norm and we can get on with the 
action.

For action is Harry's forte.
Whenever there's a new development, generally speaking Harry's first 
response is to *do* something. Any advice to the contrary is unwelcome 
and usually over-ridden or ignored.
Sadly, although action is what he's good at, fitting the right action 
to the circumstances is a bit iffy. Not only does he leap into action, 
he usually jumps to conclusions too. Wrong ones. It's a gift, a law of 
nature, like toast always falling butter-side down. It all adds to the 
entertainment immensely - but detracts from the suspense. You just 
*know* he's got hold of the wrong end of the stick and somebody'll 
suffer because of it. It's just a question of finding out who.

And the stakes rise with each book.
Escalation, it's called. Those at risk, then those who die, get closer 
to Harry as the series progresses.
Quirrell!Mort cops it in the neck in PS/SS. No big deal - he's a baddy.
Argh! Ginny's in trouble in CoS, but it's Tom that's crunched. Phew! 
Just another baddy, thank  heavens.
Oh no! Sadlymisunderstood!Sirius in PoA is due for a snogging session 
with a Dementor!  But it's OK, he escapes at the last minute.
GoF, Cedric - a sort of friend, not close, dies - leaving behind a girl 
Harry quite fancies. It's not all bad news, then.
OoP - Sirius - someone *very* close - dies. *Gulp*

What, or rather who, is next?
Dear, oh dear. Can Ron, Hermione or DD be far behind?
Or will it be multiples next time?

There's one aspect of Harry that would fit very well in our modern 
society. Nothing is his fault. He accepts no responsibility for the 
consequences of his own actions. Good intentions excuse everything. 
It's all a part of his lack of introspection of course. He didn't want, 
couldn't foresee the outcome. So if it's unpleasant it's not down to 
him. He did what was right. Blame somebody else.

To a greater or lesser extent he's encouraged in this line of thinking 
by DD. No matter what's just gone catastrophically wrong, no matter who 
has just departed precipitately to join the choir celestial, he tells 
Harry that it wasn't his fault. No  word of censure passes DD's lips; 
he never even tells him to be careful next time. Any rule-breaking and 
the old fool vapours on about "I know I said that further breaches 
would result in expulsion - but..."
A nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse. Sanctions will probably 
never be applied, no matter what transpires. DD might regret  that, one 
day. He could be the one caught at ground zero by one of Harry's ideas.
Time for the next great adventure, Albus.

What happens next?
Good question.

Second-guessing Jo is a mugs game. We all do it of course,  with 
success rates varying between awful and abysmal.
About the only thing we can be fairly sure of is that Harry will 
survive until near the end of book 7 at least. And weren't there hints 
that in book 6, at long last, Harry will do some thinking? About  time, 
says I. At long last he might engage his brain long enough to ask all 
the blindingly obvious questions that never occurred to him previously 
- you remember, the ones you screamed at the book when he was 
distracted from an important conversation by a piece of inconsequential 
trivia. Yes, those.

Mind you, it might not be that at all.
He'll be brooding over that  damn Prophesy (welcome to the club, 
Harry!), brooding about Sirius;  it's unlikely he'll be a happy bunny, 
least of all with DD.

I  did suggest last year that he'd try to avoid his ordained fate; that 
he'd try to abdicate from position of saviour to the WW. Opt out. 
Refuse to play along with DD's plan. Because he may be beginning to 
realise that DD has been grooming him for this role since forever, that 
DD's famed philosophy of choices has not been allowed to him. He's been 
volunteered and he's not happy about it. ("It's you or him, Harry. Got 
your wand?") Then some person ostensibly concerned for his well-being 
and happiness may make 'helpful' suggestions. Don't listen, Harry! 
Don't do it! Oh dear. Too late. It'll be a disaster. Death(s) ensue. 
Harry  returns to the straight and narrow - remorseful for once, and 
knuckles down to the greater struggle.
We hope.

Kneasy