Notes on Literary uses of magic in Terabithia, Pan's Labyrinth and Harry Pot

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 167973

--- "lealess" <lealess at ...> wrote:
> Lealess :  
>
> Perhaps Harry will grow to reject his/our world's 
> lines of authority, but I realistically do not see 
> that happening.  I do not see his group opposing the
> Ministry directly.  ...
>
> ...  I  honestly see Rowling's message as being more
> reactionary than anarchist in its setting up of 
> extra-state militias seemingly answerable to no-one but
> a strong leader like Dumbledore or Harry.  ...

bboyminn:

Here is the thing, I don't support our current government.
I think they are the biggest bunch of dunderhead to ever
disgrace the office they hold. But that dislike is not
directly literally at the government, only the men 
currently in charge. And I suspect nearly anyone in any
reasonably democratic country feels the same about the
men holding office in their country.

But, I, while I don't support the men, I do support the
government in concept. I stand behind, and will defend 
with my life, the founding concepts and founding documents
of my country.

In Harry, I see the idealism of youth. His demand is that
the men in government and the people controlling the Press
are and do what they have sworn to do. He, like me, is 
holding them accountable to the founding concepts and 
duties of their office. He, like me, supports the 
wizarding government in concept, but is thoroughly 
disappointed with the practical execution of that 
government by those currently in charge.

In that sense, I agree, Harry and friends are 'reactionary'
not anarchists. They are reacting to the specifics of 
this administration, not rebelling against the concept of
government in general.

The anarchist aspect is also tied to the idealism of youth.
They see that rules are not absolute. Because government
can become corrupt, the rules made by those governments
can become corrupt. Even on a smaller scale, they see
that the morally right thing overrides the legally right
thing to do. All law and rules address general and broad
circumstances, but sometime the specifics overrule the 
general, and then the right thing to do is to disregard
the rules.

So, in the sense, that Harry and the gang do not see rules
as absolute and immutable, that their is a higher moral 
cause than 'doing what your told', there is an element of 
anarchism in them.

Though I certainly suspect all this is happening on an
subconscious and instinctive level. 

For what it's worth.

Steve/bboyminn