HP and Moral Choices

[seriousschwartz]

No: HPFGUIDX 176087

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Sharon" <s.hayes at ...> wrote:
>
> Hi all, I am new to this list. I'm interested in the moral choices
> made in the books and what it means for kids. So I was wondering what
> other people thought about the following:
> 
> In the 7th book Harry is being chased by Draco, Crabbe and Goyle in
> the Room of Requirement and they are trying to capture/injure him so
> they can deliver him to Voldemort.  Crabbe and Goyle are also trying
> to actually kill Ron and Hermione. Crabbe starts a fiendfire and the
> baddies get trapped. Harry goes back to save them from being killed in
> the fire.  Why would Harry want to save someone who wants to kill him?
<snip>
> Sharon
>

seriousschwartz:
I like your post. Honestly, I always simply thought that Harry's
morality was informed by the death of his parents. Since his earliest
memories, he understood death and the wide-reaching ripple effect it
can cause. I guess this would mean he has a pretty well developed
sense of empathy for a kid his age. Regarding saving Draco twice, I
think Harry understands that Draco is not too far gone. From all that
Harry witnessed in HBP, he knew, going into DH, that Draco isn't all
evil. Harry has matured to the point that he knows most situations are
not entirely black/white.