Harry Cunning or Manipulative?

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 148462

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "h2so3f" <h2so3f at ...> wrote:
>
> susanbones: 
> "I realize he had to be less than forthcoming with the Dursleys but 
> the things he did with them, they don't seem to be at the level 
> he's identifying with LV. He made a bargain with Vernon, that he'd 
> be a good boy if he could have his permission form signed, and 
> well, that didn't even work out."

> CH3ed:
> That wasn't the only practice Harry had, though. He knew to omit 
> certain info when he thought they might work against him getting 
> what he wants like at the beginning of GoF when he had to ask 
> Vernon for permission to go to the Quidditch World cup, or when he  
> wanted to listen to the news at the beginning of OotP. As early as 
> in PS/SS he knew when and what not to say in order to get to go to 
> the zoo with the Dursleys, and he did get Draco to spill what he 
> knew about the Chamber of Secrets (with the help of polyjuice 
> potion, of course) in the Slytherin common room. In PoA he knew to 
> not tell his real name to Stan Shunpike when he boarded the 
> Knightbus while running away from the Dursleys,  etc.
 
> I think Harry can be quite cunning when he has to. I agree that he 
> hasn't been devious or downright manipulative, but I don't think 
> that is a bad skill to be able to use to get others to tell him 
> things without resorting to torturing them. DD was also very 
cunning 
> and used that ability to achieve peaceful results, ay? I don't 
think 
> that really tarnishes his soul. 

Geoff:
First, if I might comment on some of the examples given above which I 
do not read in quite the same way...

First, the visit to the zoo. Canon does not imply that Harry expected 
to go, despite his heart giving a leap:

'"Now what?" said Aunt Petunia, looking furiously at Harry as though 
he'd planned this. Harry knew he ought to feel sorry that Mrs.Figg 
had broken her leg but it wasn't easy when he reminded himself that 
it would be a whole year before he had to look at Tibbles, Snowy, 
Mr.Paws and Tufty again.
"We could phone Marge," Uncle Vernon suggested.
"Don't be silly, Vernon, she hates the boy."
The Dursleys often spoke about Harry like this, as though he wasn't 
there - or rather as though he was something very nasty that couldn't 
understand them, like a slug.
"What about what's-her-name, your friend - Yvonne?"
"On holiday in Majorca," snapped Aunt Petunia.
"You could just leave me here," Harry put in hopefully (he'd be able 
to watch what he wanted on television for a change and maybe even 
have a go on Dudley's computer).
Aunt Petunia looked as if she'd just swallowed a lemon.
"And come back and find the house in ruins?" she snarled.
"I won't blow up the house," said Harry but they weren't listening.'
(PS "The Vanishing Glass" p.22 UK edition)

[Two interesting points occur which are not directly linked to this 
thread. It is interesting that Petunia actually vetoes Aunt Marge 
because she "hates the boy". Seems to run counter to some of the 
treatment they hand to him elsewhere. Also interesting is Harry's 
comment about blowing up the house, since it is not much later in 
time that he finds out that Lily "got herself blown up"...]

Moving on, Harry didn't exactly make a bargain to be a good boy 
because he added conditions of his own, which admittedly went in 
Vernon's ear and out of the other:

'"Firstly," growled Uncle Vernon, "you'll keep a civil tongue in your 
head when talking to Marge."
"All right," said Harry bitterly, "if she does when she's talking to 
me."
"Secondly," said Uncle Vernon, acting as though he had not heard 
Harry's reply, "as Marge doesn't know anything about your 
abnormality, I don't want any - any funny stuff while she's here. You 
behave yourself, got me?"
"I will if she does," said Harry through gritted teeth.'
(COS "Aunt Marge's Big Mistake" p.20 UK edition)

Again, keeping his name from Stan Shunpike was to keep himself out of 
more trouble. Remember, he is running scared at this point in time.

I do not believe that the sort of behaviour I have mentioned counts 
as cunning or manipulative in my eyes...

My dictionary presents cunning as being "skilled in achieving one's 
ends by deceit or evasion". Manipulate is to "handle or control with 
dexterity" and manipulative is "tending to manipulate other people 
cleverly or unscrupulously".

If he has learned anything at Privet Drive, it is not to do the above 
but to keep a low profile, not to ask questions and not to do 
anything which might provoke Vernon (in particular) to take it out on 
him either verbally or physically. He seeks a quiet life free of the 
discrimination, unfairness and cruelty which he has been receiving as 
long as he can rememeber.

In this context Harry is not cunning or manipulative, he is quite 
justifiably exercising survival skills which is a very different 
kettle of fish.