Dursleys or Death (was:Re: Christian Forgiveness and Snape...

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 164483

--- "dumbledore11214" <dumbledore11214 at ...> wrote:
>
> Steve/bboyminn:
> <HUGE SNIP>
> 
> > Note that Harry has his character flaws that can be
> > attributed to having been raised at the Dursley, but
> > overal, that experience has made him the selfless,
> > courageous, and compassionate person he is today. 
> 
> Alla:
> 
> Sorry, but it can be said just as well that Harry is
> the person he is despite being raised at the Dursleys,
> not **because of that** IMO.
>

bboyminn:

Perhaps my statement came across as more absolute than
I intended. In a sense, I agree with you; Harry is who
he is 'inspite of his life at the Dursleys' rather than
because of it. That is, morally, Harry towers over the
Dursleys, who for all their implied propriety, are sad
sad miserable people.

But I do believe buried in the misery of life at the
Durley's, It is impossible for Harry to NOT learn
valuable lessons from them. That experience has made
Harry a better person than he might have been because
Harry has a rational mind that can see through the
clutter of class, implied status, and false prestige.

We know that at times Harry has burned with jealousy
as Dudley receive fabulous presents while Harry went 
without. Yet, Harry learns that real wealth is not
in tokens. He doesn't value material things because
he has seen the material things don't bring happiness.

Every thing Dudley gets, he gets because he wanted, 
not because he needed or valued what he got. Quite
the opposite, Dudley values nothing. Everything he
got he broke, destroyed, or quickly grew bored of.
Harry sees that possessions for possessions sake
are worthless. Better to have one thing of true 
value than a million things of no value. That is
a lesson well learned.

Harry knows what it is like to be oppressed, so he has
sympathy for the downtrodden like Neville. This also
gives him the empathy that leads to his selflessness
and willingness to sacrifice for others. 

Harry knows isolation and loneliness, this inhibits 
him from forming a lot of social friendships, but he
does cherish the few close true friend he has.
He knows well what a treasure they are. 

When Harry defends Ron against Draco on the train. I 
think this is exactly what we are seeing. Harry has made
his first friend ever, and that is powerful and important
stuff to Harry. Subconsiously, he is thinking that
a friendship is powerful and deep. It is not to be 
bought and sold, or traded away lightly. It is something
to be treasured. Ron in that first meeting with Harry
seems totally sincere and honest; Draco on the other
hand seems calculating and scheming. In the moment,
Harry recognises the difference between Friend and
friendly, and choses accordingly.

So, you are right, if Harry had truly learned the 
lessons the Dursley's had intended to teach him, he
would be one miserable excuse for a human being. But
wisely, the Durleys became the negative role model
for Harry. False pride, appearances, worthless tokens
of wealth, are all the wrong things, and Harry clearly
knew that. Whatever is right with the Dursley's is
exactly what is wrong with the world. 

> Alla:
> 
> .... as I said many times I wish JKR would have shown 
> blood protection in working. It would have been much 
> more convincing to me, ...


bboyminn:

I'm not 100% convinced we won't see the last vestiges of
the Blood Protection. I can't imagine that there will not
be an attempt on Harry at the Dursleys, and maybe, just
maybe, the timing will be off enough to allow us to see
the Protection in action. I know the chance is slim, but
I won't give up hope until I've read the last page and
closed the book.

For what it's worth.

Steve/bboyminn