Harry's Characterization

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 163517

---  Scarah <scarah at ...> wrote:
>
> > Alla:
> > >
> > > Except nowhere near in this scene Snape even 
> > > implies IMO that Harry's answer is to go 
> > > different way completely.  *(snip)* 
> >
> > ...
> >
> > Ceridwen:
> > I think you're right: Snape will be surprised.  But
> > that doesn't mean that Snape thinks there's another
> > way besides his.  ...  No matter how I read that 
> > scene, though, it just strikes the wrong chord to 
> > be taunting.
> 
> Sarah:
> The question is whether Snape figured out from the 
> lessons what JK expressed in the TLC/Mugglenet interview.
> Snape might think it's his way or the highway, but it's
> hard to believe he really harbors any delusion of Harry
> learning to become a great Occlumens.
> 
> It's telling that Dumbledore's given up on it too as of
> HBP.  If he held out any hope for Harry's Occlumency, 
> he'd never drop it,...  The fact that the part about 
> Occlumency comes right along with it causes a tendency 
> to read it in the same way, except that as readers we 
> know it's useless advice, and I think Snape knows that
> too.
> 
> Sarah

bboyminn:

Some seem to think that Snape and Harry's conversation
at the end of that previous book (HBP) was a special
rant reserved just for Harry. But /I/ am very
confident that Snape's statements are exactly what
he would have told any student in Harry's situation.

Like it or not, Harry has a big fight ahead of him. If
he expects to win, then he needs to be far better than
he is (from the point of view of any of the characters).

Every student is expected to become proficient in non-
verbal spells; it was required in every 'spell' oriented
class taught at Hogwarts in 6th year. If Harry has any
hope of winning then he needs to quit whining and LEARN
HIS LESSONS.

Most wizards have the luxury of many years to gradually
gain skill in Occlumency and Legilimency. Harry needs to
know it NOW. He will go up against some of the most
vicious and skilled wizard in the wizard world. He needs
to learn to give himself very possible advantage IF HE 
EVEN REMOTELY HOPES TO WIN.

Now, JKR said Harry would never be /good/ at Occulmency,
but I don't think he is hopeless at it. He has shown
skill at resisting the Imperius Curse, and he has shown
that when he truly does not want his thoughts seen, he 
can stop them one way or another. So, I believe he does
have some skill in this area that he can apply when he
is desperate.

So, why didn't it work when Snape cornered him after he
curse Draco in the bathroom. I think it is because Harry
was racked with guilt over having harmed Draco so 
drastically. He knew he didn't want his source of that
spell seen, but he also knew that he was guilty of 
something terrible. I think his conscience more than
anything brought forth the thought of his Potions Book.

Harry can't use Unforgivables, or he will descend to 
Barty Crouch Sr.'s levels. He will become the very thing
he is fighting. 

Everything Snape told Harry was true and sound advice, 
and advice that Snape would have given anyone in Harry's 
shoes. Harry needs skill if he expects to survive.
He needs to block his thoughts if he has any hope of
battling far better wizards. He would certainly be
at an advantage if he could muster a bit of Legilemency
too. He needs to learn to fight effectively, and in my
view as much as Harry did not want to hear it from 
Snape; Snape gave Harry the best possible advice anyone
could have given him. Which I will summerize as 'quit
whining, get up off you ass, and start preparing 
yourself with the skills that any fool can see that you
need'. 

That's not taunting, that is good advice expressed with
a very valid degree of annoyance and frustration.

Just one man's opinion.

Steve/bboyminn