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

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 151736

> > >>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.  <snip of 
the examples> 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.


Alla:

Yes, I thought about famous people who did heroic things when I sent 
my post too :)

So, yes, of course there are plenty of "world shakers' who started 
early that is absolutely true, there are also child heroes (like 
kids who during Second world war fought against Nazi, etc, etc), but 
I am not talking about starting doing tough things early. I am 
specifically talking about the child, on whose shoulders lies the 
fate of the world.

Alexander the Great conquered the world  or a lot of the world 
anyways, IMO he did not save it.

So, while I absolutely agree that there are many real life children 
who either started training for hard life ahead early or did heroic 
things, I don't think that such children had task of such magnitude, 
something so huge and obligatory.

Makes sense?

Oh, and of course I should say that theoretically it is possible - 
as in existance of the child who should save the world, it is just 
in practice, I don't think anything comes close to the task that 
lies ahead of Harry. ( in RL, not in literature, of course there are 
plenty examples in literature).

And one more thing , if such child indeed existed ( the one on whose 
shoulders lied the burden of saving the world from the mainiac) in 
RL, I would say the same thing - that such child should be treated 
accordingly and that such child is entitled to know everything that 
can help him.

Actually to the question when, I probably have the same answer as 
you did in earlier posts - when such child starts asking questions.

JMO,

Alla