Harry had to fail - Harry's Tragic Flaws

[eggplant107]

No: HPFGUIDX 130883

"jenzajlp" <jennefer_pizza at m...> wrote:

> I'm not saying that his outbursts in 
> Umbridge's class were unwarranted,
> because, she is a evil little troll,
> but it was not the smart thing to do.  

I disagree. Harry was being brave when he confronted Umbrage in class,
I think that is beyond dispute, but even though it caused him injury I
don't think Harry was being a fool because it had to be done. If he
had not then Umbrage's lies would have gone unchallenged and the class
would figure she must be telling the truth and Harry was not only a
nutcase but a cowardly nutcase. As it is Cho thought him very brave
and I'm sure she wasn't the only one. 

"jenzajlp" <jennefer_pizza at m...> wrote:

> Sirius, Lupin, Hermione, AND Dumbledore
> who all stressed the monumental importance
> of learning Occlumency. 

And not one of them explained clearly exactly why it was so
monumentally important or why he should willingly put his life in the
hands of Snape, somebody he dislikes and distrusts, or why his
wonderful Occlumency lessons make him weaker not stronger.

"jenzajlp" <jennefer_pizza at m...> wrote:

> I give you Neville as an example, who has 
> had his share of tragedies and has never 
> pulled the "You don't understand/Woe is me"
> card that Harry pulled with his friends
> on multiple occassions in OotP.  

Neville's way of dealing with life's unfairness is to develop very low
self esteem, Harry deals with it in a much more productive way, he
gets mad and tries to change it. I might add that we don't really know
what Neville is thinking because there is only character we have
direct access to inner thoughts and feelings, Harry; for all the other
characters we have to infer what they are thinking from their actions;
Rowling never says Neville thought X or felt Y.

"jenzajlp" <jennefer_pizza at m...> wrote:

> What happens if, as I predicted earlier,
> Harry's arrogance and short-temper 
> alienate his friends? 

If it alienates his friends then they weren't very good friends
because the worse thing Harry did was raise his voice a few times and
then apologies a few seconds latter; Ron did far worse with less
reason and for a much longer time in book 4 and yet Harry is still his
friend.  

Eggplant