Harry's character development

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 139142

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "dkeeberlibryn"
<dkeeberlibryn at y...> wrote:
> ..., I have read ... the HP series, and ... I came away with a 
> nagging feeling that ..., ...  I just don't feel that he (Harry) is 
> prepared to do battle with the most powerful evil wizard in history
> ....
> 
> ..., based on the archetypal form that requires that the father must
> die for the son to become a full man, I was fully expecting 
> Dumbledore to die in this book.  ...  But, further true to the 
> archetypal form, the powers of the father must pass to the son, ... 
> Unless Rowling either produces a 900 page monster, or she caves in 
> and writes an eighth book, I don't see how she will convincingly 
> bring about the necessary transformation of Harry ...
> 
> I wonder if he will serve as the point of the spear that is 
> comprised of many others who join forces with Harry to bring about 
> the demise of V.
> 
> The reason I state these concerns is that the series has offered the 
> archetypal forms very effectively throughout .... If the portray of 
> Harry is to be convincing and ... serve that myth... of holding 
> lessons for all, Harry will need to be much more convincingly drawn 
> to serve that laudable goal.

bboyminn:

Your right; the latest book did a lot to convey information regarding
the plot and character/story background, Harry did not advance much as
a wizard. If anything, I thought he slid backwards a bit. 

How can we expect Harry to do battle with the greatest most powerful
wizard in the world, Voldemort, when he can't even curse Snape, not
even silently while Snape's back is turned? 

To some extent, I find it extremely frustrating that Harry hasn't had
a stronger education in defensive and offensive dueling. To a very
limited extent I understand Harry's reluctance to ask for help. He's
young and very independant, plus he doesn't really trust many people,
and he certainly is NOT prone to running to adults for help, but he
does desperately need help and help that only adults can give him. 

In the Occlumency class with Snape, we see that Harry has the
capability to block unwanted memories. Unfortunately the circumstances
in which and the methods by which he was taught this art left him will
little confidence in his ability. He is capable of doing this, but no
one seems interested in pushing the issue and encouraging him to
continue practicing with the help of his friends.

Of course, I can't blame it all on the adults, although it is their
responsibility; Harry is very lazy about his practice. If it had been
me, I would be researching Dark Arts and Anti-Dark Arts with every
free minute of time. He could practice dueling with Harry and Ron. I
sure he could even find other member of the D.A. Club, or members of
the Order, who would duel with him. He has a set of Defense Against
Dark Art Encyclopedias which were given to him at Christmas by Sirius
and Remus. Instead of mucking about with the HBP Advance Potions book,
he would have done much better to study and practice from his Defense
Against Dark Arts book set. 

Look at how easily Dumbledore manuvered though the maze of
enchantments in the cave, would it have killed him to explain to Harry
how he knew some of the things he knew, so that Harry could be
prepared to face the remaining Horcruxes? Would it have killed
Dumbledore to answer a few of Harry questions?

Now compound Harry lack of skill and training with the Horcrux search.
That in and of itself, given how much information Harry has, is close
to a lifetime endeavor. He knows so little, he could literally spend
years to find the answers, and once he finds the answers, he is
ill-equipped to deal with the recover of those enchanted objects. Why?
Because Dumbledore didn't think it necessary to prepare him for it.
Now the only possible resolution is either the Horcruxes are
insignificant, or there must be some short-cut outside help in finding
them. Still even once they are located, getting them is a task most
likely beyond Harry. Excuse me while I scream.

We know that to make a good story, the hero has to be the underdog. He
has to be hopelessly out manned and out gunned, but the story has
almost reached rediculous proportions. Either this series is going to
be the most lamely finished series in history, or JKR will pull off a
masterfully stunning twist of characters and plots. Though I admit,
this last book hasn't left me feeling real confident.

True Harry has the help of his friends, but most of his friends are
even more poorly equipped than Harry, or they are remainng distant and
silent. I have often speculated that in the end it will not be Harry
who casts the fatal blow. Perhaps Dobby will destroy Voldemort; the
least of us overcoming the greatest of us. Perhaps Neville will step
in in the moment of Harry's defeat and cast the coup de grâce. Maybe a
combination of people, like Harry/Ron/Hermione all casting the AK
curse at the same time. I've even considered the possibility that
Voldemort won't be killed, that he will instead be vaporized and the
moral of the story will be the Evil is never truly gone. But for Harry
to do it alone, is a complete mystery to me; I simply don't see how.
Too much to do, too poorly prepared, too poorly organized, too poorly
supported, and too little time to do it.

You are right. Harry has SOOOOO MUCH to learn and SOOOO MUCH to do,
that I can't imagine how it can all possibly fit into a single book.
Again, the only solutions are either hopelessly Lame or stunningly
Materful, and only time will tell.

Not sure if I added anything, but there it is.

Steve/bboyminn