Harry and the Decision

[bbkkyy55]

No: HPFGUIDX 127587



I've been thinking about heros lately.  If this hasn't been discussed 
to death already and if the Elfs allow.

I'm a fairly recent fan of Fantasy Fiction, so I haven't read a whole 
lot.  I'm an old fan of LOTR, and of course HP.  More recently I've 
read a lot of Terry Brooks' Shannara series.  Heros in these books 
all seem to have some common links.

1.  The ones we like best seem to be the reluctant ones who are 
brought to the point where they "decide" to take on the "task".  In 
the Shannara series they are most of the time very suspicious and 
finally become convinced that there is only one solution to the 
problem (evil) and that they are "it".  Frodo decides for himself, 
almost, that he is the only one who can really do it, so he 
volunteers, although he is by no means eager to take on the challenge.

2.  They never really know what they are getting into.  They never 
really know everything that they will have to deal with.

3.  They will not sit by and let evil take over.  They are never 
apathetic.  They would rather die fighting evil than submit to it.

4.  They are honest, decent people who even after finding out how 
daunting the task is that they have taken on, will not back down or 
turn and run.  They have a basic integrity that won't allow them to 
quit, even at great peril to themselves, or even death.  They have 
committed to take on the task and that commitment carries them 
through.  

5.  They have good loyal friends who they would die for, and who 
would die for them (Sam and Frodo).  They also have a good portion of 
luck.  The two of these, friends and luck, often enable them to 
complete the task. 

Now Harry certainly can fit in #2, until the end of OOTP he had no 
idea of the Prophecy, and probably still doesn't know entirely what 
he's up against.  Though after the BOM he must have a better idea.

He certainly fits #3. He feels an obligation to jump into the battle 
and right any wrong that appears.  Get the SS, rescue Ginny, save 
Sirius, etc.  In GOF he decides to die fighting LV rather than submit.

He definitely fits #5 as far as friends and luck are concerned.

I don't think however that he is ready for the Heros "Hall of Fame" 
quite yet.  He hasn't saved the world.  He still needs to make the 
big decision #1 and to commit to it #4.  

I am sure he will do this,  he's probably mulling things over in his 
mind right now while we wait for Book 6.  But will he be forced into 
it, or will he volunteer?  How long will he take to decide and what 
will he do then?  He is after all much younger than our normal heros 
and still in school.  I can't wait to find out.

Bonnie - who loves a reluctant hero.