hagrid's emotions over his pets

[Sherry Gomes]

No: HPFGUIDX 168715

> >>Carol:
> Maybe because Hagrid is *always* shedding tears, so his anguish is 
> old hat by the time of PoA? He blubbers like a child over his      
> monsters from SS/PS (Norbert) onward. Anyway, that's how I feel     
> about it.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
I agree.  For hurt/comfort to work, the hero needs to bear his hurt with a
bit of dignity.  Something Hagrid doesn't have much of, unfortunately.
Rather than dealing with adversity in a manly way, he deals with it in a
childish way.  Which is why it's believable that Hagrid actually *needs* the
help of three fourteen year old children (with zero experience dealing with
the MoM) to help him save his pet, and why it's believable that he flubs it
anyway.  (

Sherry:

As many here know from previous posts, I am accompanied through my life by a
wonderful black lab guide dog.  I also now work in Admissions for the
organization from where I received all my guide dogs.  At least a couple
times a month, I'm in tears over something that happened to a dog, or from a
conversation with a person who desperately wants a guide dog but is not
ready and who has given up hope on life because of becoming blind.  But the
biggest tears are over the dogs--dogs who get sick, who are neglected or
treated badly, or just dogs who are little more than mobility tools to their
blind handlers, not really beloved companions.  Even before starting this
particular job, I would cry over any story of cruelty or pain to an animal
or children, even as I rarely cry over pain or hurt to myself.  Though I am
nearly 50, I cannot read books that have scenes of animal or child cruelty.
Does this mean I am not handling things in a mature way or that I blubber
like a child?  I don't think so, and of course, I don't think anyone here
would think so.  I'm just sensitive and compassionate about the animals and
kids in the world.

So, yeah, as an adult, I do like Hagrid.  I feel for him.  He is simple and
childlike in many ways.  I always thought it was because society had never
taught him to hide his emotions or to "act like an adult".  There are many
flaws to Hagrid's character, but the fact that he cries over his pets and
needs the help of children is hardly one of them in my opinion.  He's
actually refreshing in the PotterVerse.  And, I actually think there is
something more to Hagrid, something important that he knows or will do in
the last book.  like Dumbledore, I would trust Hagrid with my life, and
there are few in the WW of whom I would say that, if I met them in real
life.

Sherry