[HPforGrownups] Re: Sportsmanship in Harry Potter

[Magpie]

No: HPFGUIDX 151723

> bboyminn:

> This is not a test of getting a ball into a goal, it is a test of
> courage, daring, cunning, and resourcefullness; and I might even
> venture to say priorities. If Harry had not had moral fiber, he would
> have taken Ron and left the others to rot, and consequently would have
> been the first one back. But he stayed, determined to make sure all
> were rescued, and when all were not rescued, he rescued the remaining
> hostages himself.
>
> Even after the first champion turned up, Harry could have said, 'OK,
> they're coming now, it's OK for me to go', but he didn't. The safety
> of his friends, of all the hostages, was still a higher priority than
> winning for the sake of winning. The same when the second champion
> turned up, Harry could have taken that as a chance to get away. But
> again, he showed that people were a higher priority than winning, so
> he stayed until he couldn't stay any longer. I think that very much
> reflects the very character traits the tournement was designed to
> test, and he was awarded those extra points for displaying the very
> characteristics they were looking for.

Magpie:
No, it is a test of getting a ball through a hoop, only with more dangerous 
obstacles and needing more resourcefulness.  Harry mistakenly thinks the 
hostages are in danger so forgets the game and just saves them.  That shows 
that Harry is the kind of person who, if he thought people were honestly in 
danger, would think that was more important than a game.  I would imagine 
Cedric Diggory is another such person, as are Viktor and Fleur, hopefully. 
I understand the impulse to not penalize Harry when he thought people were 
in trouble, but also have a big problem with randomly coming up with a 
"moral fibre" measurement to keep him in the lead.

One of the hilarious things about GoF is that we're always encouraged to 
sympathize with Harry for being the underdog but Rowling just can't bring 
herself to have him lose at anything.  He's still acting like he can't 
possibly win when he's in first place right out of the gate--the one time he 
might have gotten points off the judges find a loophole--and override the 
judge who doesn't. It suddenly reminds me of the Prefects badge--Harry 
finally has to come in second in something and then nope!  He really was the 
real Prefect!  Most kids have to deal with disappointments, and making 
mistakes for good reasons that they still have to suffer for.

> bboyminn:
and before we start complaining about how unfair it
> was, let's examine the reactions of Viktor and Cedric. They don't
seem > too fussed about it. Karkaroff is certainly fussed, but Krum seems to
> accept the judgement graciously, as does Cedric.

Magpie:
Too bad Krum and Cedric don't get extra points for accepting this judgmenton 
on a whim graciously .  Or for accepting Harry's being the tournament 
graciously.   The judges are a lot less free with the sentimental points at 
the end of the Tournament where Harry wins cause Cedric dies.  Harry himself 
has the impulse to give the winnings to Cedric, but the committee seems to 
consider death a disqualification.


-m