Child Saviors and realism (was:Re: Harry's assumption VS Everyone's assumption)

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 151734

> >>Ceridwen:
> > <SNIP>
> > A lot of people want JKR to write believably for the Real World, 
> > in things like comeuppance for characters they see as abusive.  
> > If she will, then why not write realistically for children who   
> > are still too young to see beyond what their limited experience 
> > shows them?  

> >>Alla:
> <snip> 
> Children who are going to save the world, do NOT to the best of my 
> knowledge exist in RL :), that is why IMO it is impossible to 
> discuss how adults should deal with Harry as savior of the world   
> as it would happen to RL. 
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
Okay, this is a bit strange, and may have to do with the late hour, 
but...  Training up a child to take a position where she or he may 
have to "save the world" was once a real life endeavor.  Elizabeth I 
of England, Alexander the Great, etc., real movers and shakers on 
the world stage *were* trained as children to assume the power they 
came to later in life. (And one could argue that they saved their 
worlds when they came into their power.)  I think Plato had a whole 
thing on the perfect match between a philosopher and the ruler he 
trains up.  And I believe Machiavelli wrote "The Prince" with the 
idea of providing training for a child in becoming a proper ruler.

So while there's certainly a lot of trope to the wiseman and young 
hero storyline, there is a bit of truth to it too.  For a great deal 
of human history anyway.

So it *is* possible to look at how Harry is treated in a realistic 
way, IMO.  To see if his training fits with the task assigned to 
him, to see if Dumbledore is bringing him into his own or holding 
him back.  The extended childhood of modern times is a fairly new 
thing.  And Harry is going to save the world while technically an 
adult.  (Unless JKR takes a strange turn in book 7, of course.)  
Alexander was already ruling while his father was away by that age.  
And had successfully lead men in battle, I believe.

Yeah, just wanted to point that out.  No idea if it means 
anything. :)

Betsy Hp