Harry's Characterization (was:Satisfaction of the story to date)

[anne_t_squires]

No: HPFGUIDX 163422

> Harry's Characterization (was: Re: Satisfaction of the story to 
> date  (was: I Hate Horcruxes Society)
> 
> Mike commented:
> <considerable snip> 
> But after he finds out he is the "Chosen One" at the end of OotP, 
> how can he be shown as the still uninterested youth of his first 
> five years? There is more of the "hormonal-Harry" in HBP than the 
> guy destined-to-bring-down-Voldemort-who-better-start-getting-
> prepared-Harry. If that isn't regression it is at the least an 
> appalling lack of progression. Where's the urgency? Where's the 
> resolve that he seemed to have in the Weasley's broomshed? Harry is 
> more interested in Quidditch and how his Captaincy will be viewed in 
> retrospect than whether he can cast a defensive spell non-verbally. 
> Huh? This is the priority our hero has set for himself? IOW, what 
> 
> Amie now:
> I agree that his behavior in the first 5 books is typical juvenile 
> behavior. This also makes Harry's behavior in HBP believable as 
> well. I think his commitment to Quidditch and short-sitedness on 
> nonverbal spells is typical of Harry's previous behavior. If he had 
> suddenly become completely and 150% committed wouldn't we be having 
> the reverse discussion now? In my view, Harry was attempting to have 
> as normal a life as he could under the circumstances. Sure he should 
> have taken his studies more seriously, but shouldn't everyone? I 
> know he has to save the world and all, but wouldn't that become 
> quite a bit to take without anything else. I'm trying to imagine a 
> story in which Harry had become so committed to learning things and 
> was suddenly a perfect student. I'm finding it quite hard to do with 
> the characterization we have so far.
> 
> <snip>

> 
> Carol continues:
> To the extent that this series is a Bildungsroman, JKR can't have 
> him learn the most important lessons in the penultimate book. They 
> have to be saved for the last book. He also needs to realize, as JKR 
> herself has said, how much he already knows, and put it all together-
> -much as we, the readers, have been trying to do, but with more 
> success (I hope!).
> 
> Mike:
> I don't need him to learn the most important lessons by now. But I 
> do think that JKR should have shown him to be a little better 
> prepared. Or lacking that, with a little (alot) more purposeful 
> drive to
> prepare than she has shown Harry to have so far. (BTW, what's a 
> Bildungsroman?)
> 
> 
> Amie now: 
> 
> (bil•dungs•ro•man or Bil•dungs•ro•man (bl'dngz-rô-män', -
> dngks-) 
> n.  - A novel whose principal subject is the moral, psychological, 
> and intellectual development of a usually youthful main character.) 
> 
> I have to say I agree with Carol. Harry may be the "hero" of the 
> book, but he's not adult. As a reader, I wouldn't expect Harry to 
> have this unyielding commitment to the cause. While some may prefer 
> to have their hero be all-knowing and full of purposeful drive, I 
> think this flaw in Harry makes him a more believable, and 
> interesting, character. I don't really see it as a flaw though, just 
> more of adolescent behavior. This is supposed to be a story for 
> adolescents after all, so they're likely to identify with this part 
> of Harry's character. 
> 
> <snip of the rest of the conversation>
> 
Anne Squires shyly enters the conversation:  Warning ---  long comment
ahead.

I agree with all of Amie and Carol' points.  As I see it there are
several reasons why Harry has no sense of urgency.  Furthermore,  I
think Harry may be better prepared than everyone, including Harry,
realizes.  

Harry has no sense of urgency because he is Harry. Harry tends to
react to situations instead of prepare for them. (I don't count the DA
because Hermione masterminded the whole thing and forced a rather
reluctant Harry to take charge.)  

In CoS he knew he was hearing voices in the walls but did nothing
about it; he confided in Ron and Hermione but otherwise did nothing. 
It was Hermione who developed the polyjuice plan to find out who the
Heir of Slytherin was; it was also Hermione who researched the Chamber
and figured out that there was a basilisk loose in the school.
Hermione even figured out that the thing was using the pipes to move
about.  Throughout CoS Harry was reactive while Hermione was very much
proactive.  

In PoA Harry knows there is an escaped killer who wants to kill him. 
He has no plan to trap said killer, even after learning that not only
did this man betray his family, but he is also his godfather.  Harry
does learn to defend himself against Dementors; but he never seems to
worry about defending himself against a convicted killer and/or
battling that killer.  (And I think he should have done.  In fact one
of the reasons that I tend to agree with the ESE!Lupin theories is
that Remus never even suggests that Harry learn to defend himself
against a wizard who wants to kill him. But, I digress.) Harry very
foolishly sneaks into Hogsmeade for fun and games, breaking several
rules and thumbing his nose at all attempts to protect him.  Harry's
actions in PoA are very foolhardy, but they are the actions of a
thirteen year old boy.  

In GoF Harry goes through the whole year literally waiting to the very
last minute to do anything, to learn anything, to prepare for the
tasks, to ask someone to the ball, etc.  The entire book is an
illustration of denial which leads to procrastination. In this novel
Harry wants to live in the moment instead of facing and preparing for
the various tasks.  Also in GoF Harry longs to be like everyone else.
 I think Harry mainly wants to pretend that he is not a champion and
none of it is actually happening to him.  I also believe this
foreshadows his attitude in HBP.  Harry did not put his name in the
goblet just as Harry never asked to be The Chosen One.  All of this
has been placed on Harry by others and I think Harry likes to pretend
that it isn't really happening.  Denial is not just a river in Egypt.


In OotP, as stated previously, Harry does care about the DA, but as I
said, he was manipulated into starting and leading this organization.
 Harry, true to form, avoids being proactive in this book.  He is
obsessed with the door at the end of the corridor in his vision but
does nothing to find or get to this door (except invade Snape's
pensieved memory where he thinks he might find out something about the
"weapon").  He does nothing to block this vision when even he realizes
that it must be coming from LV.  Harry, once again, is the reluctant
hero who reacts to situations and is never, ever proactive.  



So, in HBP Harry is being Harry when he has no sense of urgency. He
wants to be a regular guy, as he always has.  Regardless of what he
tells DD in the Weasley's shed.  Don't get me wrong, I think Harry was
sincere at the time, but Harry is still Harry.  Harry wants to be a
teenager, not an adult.  Harry has a history of living in denial and
in the moment.  He puts everything off to the last possible moment. 
Even DD  becomes rather annoyed with Harry when he learns that Harry
has procrastinated in getting Slughorn's memory.  Harry resents being
the BWL/Chosen One.  Harry never chose any of this.  Harry does not
prepare for events; he reacts.  All of these characteristics are
typical of teenage boys and they are typical of Harry throughout the
entire series.  If Harry had changed drastically I would think that
JKR was not being true to the character she has created.

Also, Harry knows that he will not/cannot defeat LV in a duel.  I do
not care how many spells Harry learns.  I do not care whether they are
verbal or nonverbal, he will never be a match for LV in a duel.  LV
has fifty years on Harry. LV will always be a better spell caster,
swifter,  much more experienced, darker, more powerful.  But that is
not the point.  Harry's wand cannot duel LV's.  Priori Incantantum
(sp?) will always be the result.  Furthermore, LV will be defeated by
a "power the Dark Lord knows not."  Whatever that power is, Harry is
_not_ ever going to learn it in Severus Snape's DADA class.  Harry is
all too aware of everything I just stated, so why should he bother to
apply himself in Snape's DADA class? Of course, the very fact that
Snape is the DADA professor means that Harry is unlikely to learn a
single thing in Defense this year.  (Except he really did learn quite
a bit from the Prince, didn't he?)  I think that even if Flitwick, who
is suppose to be an excellent dueler, had been given the position of
DADA professor Harry still would not have applied himself to his DADA
studies because what's the point really?


Some might argue that Harry needs to prepare himself to face not only
LV but also the DEs.  My response to that is that Harry already has
faced the DEs and was able to hold his own against them.  Plus the
prophecy speaks to this issue as well --- either must die at the hand
of the other.  Thus, when/if Harry is defeated it will be at LV's
hand, not by the hand of a DE.  Harry knows this as well.


Furthermore, DD is very aware of how prepared or unprepared Harry is
to face LV and his DEs and what does he see fit to do?  I ask you. 
Does he admonish Harry to apply himself in Defense?  Does he arrange
for Harry to take private Defense classes with anyone in the Order? 
Does he tutor Harry himself in DADA?  No, he does not.  In fact he
gives the DADA position to the one man in the world from whom Harry is
guaranteed not to learn a single thing.  So what exactly does DD see
fit to do?  He gives Harry a series of history lessons about the life
and times of Tom Riddle/Lord Voldemort.  All of this sends Harry a
message:  Don't worry about your DADA class, Harry; but be sure to
learn whatever you can about LV's background.  Again, Harry's behavior
is tacitly condoned by DD, so why should Harry feel compelled to worry
about preparation/urgency?  Given Harry's personality and
propensities, I doubt he would come to a conclusion that he should
train more when it is implied that he need not.

DD seems to know what preparation Harry needs (JKR definitely does and
DD is her spokesperson in the books) and he seems to be unconcerned
about Harry's attitude.  He does not tell Harry that he needs to
prepare more, study more, train more.  DD seems unperturbed by Harry's
apparent lack of urgency/lack of resolve?  He does get on to Harry
about collecting Slughorn's memory.  So, if DD were upset about
Harry's attitude I think he would scold him (in a grandfatherly way,
of course).  I propose that we, the readers of this series, do not
know what Harry needs to fight Voldemort.  Mike says that he thinks
that JKR should have shown him to be a little better prepared.  But,
since we do not know what skills Harry needs or does not need, I say
that how do we know Harry is not prepared?

And I think he is extremely well prepared.  Here is a list of what
Harry does have (not in any particular order/ranking):

1.  Devoted friends.  Ron and Hermione, of course.  But beyond this he
also has the backing of former DA members, the Weasleys (sans Percy,
obviously), and Order members.  Not to mention Dobby.

2.  Personal experience going up against LV.  I think the fact that
Harry has had various confrontations with LV will prove to be
invaluable.  At the very least it will boost Harry's confidence that
he can, in fact, defeat him.  If Harry doesn't believe in himself then
he is defeated before he begins. Also Harry definitely has some sort
of instinct, sixth sense or connection to LV.  He always knows exactly
the right thing to do at exactly the right moment when facing Voldemort. 

3.  Experience going up against DEs.

4.  The knowledge that LV created horcruxes and enough information to
figure out where they are and how to destroy them. 

5.  His mother's love/sacrifice.  I know the blood protection at the
Dursley's runs out on Harry's birthday; but Harry will have the
opportunity to renew this protection before he begins his quest to
defeat LV. 

6.  The power the Dark Lord knows not.  And that you and I know not as
well, in the sense that we don't know exactly what this power will
turn out to be or how this will all work itself out.

7.  Experience as a leader.  Quidditch captain and leader of the DA.

8.  Charisma.  Harry is a person whom people want to believe in, want
to rally behind.  I believe he has the ability to unite the WW.  The
DA included members of three of the four houses.  When Harry held
Quidditch tryouts members of other houses wanted to be on Harry
Potter's team.  The DP has declared that he is The Chosen One.

9.  Experience facing a dragon, a basilisk, merpeople, giant spiders, etc.

10.  The ability to perform well under extreme pressure.

11.  Magical knowledge from six years of schooling and the HBP's
potion book.

I don't mean to imply that Harry does not still have room for
improvement, lessons to learn.  What I am saying is that he is in a
good position to learn these lessons which I suspect will somehow
involve forgiving Snape.

In conclusion, Harry does not need a sense of urgency.  I personally
feel that JKR has shown Harry more than prepared to progress to the
next stage of the adventure.  Everything is right on track. 
Everything is proceeding according to plan.