Harry's arrogance (was Evil Snape)

[juli17 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 154403

Carol:

We see  that Harry *is* intelligent (or Slythernishly clever and
devious) when he  figures out how to get the memory from Slughorn (I
doubt that Felix Felicis  would have enabled him to do that if he
didn't have the potential to do so  on his own). He arrives at at least
some of the right conclusions after the  excursions into the Pensieve
in HBP. And he's a lot quicker in remembering  bezoars (thank goodness
for Snape!) than Slughorn is when Ron is dying from  the poisoned mead.
(I'm sure that others can come up with additional  examples of Harry's
intelligence or resourcefulness. He does have an  extraordinary amount
of luck and at least one clever friend, not to mention  being
powerfully magical when it comes to Patronuses and other DADA  spells,
but IMO he wouldn't have survived this long if he didn't also  have
above-average intelligence. (I'm not claiming that he's a genius  like
the teenage Severus, by any means, but I certainly wouldn't call  him
unintelligent.) 
 
Julie:
I agree that Harry is reasonably intelligent. And there are different  kinds
of intelligence. Being book-smart like Hermione is only one type.  Spatial
intelligence, social intelligence, insightfulness, and resourcefulness  are
also important factors in overall intelligence. Harry has no problem  with
deduction in general, as you point out, Carol. And like Snape, he has
certain innate talents (magically speaking). 
 
But even more importantly, in fact most, MOST importantly, Harry  has 
something no amount of bookish intelligence can compensate for, and
that is an amazing ability to keep his composure during a crisis.  It 
doesn't matter how much you know or how talented you are if you can't
access those resources when you need them most. Harry  can. He doesn't
panic as Hermione can, nor freeze as Slughorn did. That doesn't mean  he
isn't afraid--terrified even--but he doesn't let that stop him from  thinking
and acting right through it. Ron and the bezoar being one example,  the
events in the graveyard in GoF another. (Admittedly the Dementors are
initially an exception, but Harry is particularly susceptible to them,  and
once he knows how to fight them, he does without hesitation.)
 
That's what makes Harry a successful hero character. Reasonable
intelligence and the ability to use it when seconds count.
 
Julie 
 
 

 


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