OOP Chapter 1 post DH look

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 182476

---  "Carol" <justcarol67 at ...> wrote:
>
> Alla wrote:
> >
> > Okay, I am guessing I will find a lot of new things, since
> > I only reread this book once or twice all together.
> <snip>
> > I think this chapter sets up Harry's mood of being left out
> > of the information loop brilliantly and that's on top of 
>> him still reliving Graveyard.
> <snip>
> 
> > ...
> 
>  
 
> Carol:
> ... 
> 
> Harry's anger in this chapter, though understandable, seems 
> out of proportion to the cause .... 

bboyminn:

One teeny tiny side point regarding this. It may be that Harry's
emotions seem out of proportion because we learn about them
in narrative. Since it is narrative, we are seeing Harry's 
/internal/ emotional landscape, not the outward appearances.

I'm sure we can all relate to having some kind of strong
emotional turmoil, that, for the most part, shows very little
on the outside. I doubt that the Dursleys, or any other external
observer, perceived the same level of turmoil that we the
reader perceive.

Also, keep in mind that Harry has recently experienced a near-
death physical and emotional trauma. While I may not go so far
as to say he is suffering from 'Post traumatic Stress Disorder',
he is undoubtedly suffering from post traumatic stress. Having
been nearly killed and having had to fight for his life is most
certainly amplifying his mood. 

> Carol:
>
> ... but it does seem as if the soul bit is at work here, 
> responding to and intensifying Harry's anger and resentment 
> and self-pity (look what I've gone through that they haven't). 
> Possibly it forewhadows the effects of the locket Horcrux on 
> Ron. (?)
> 

bboyminn:

This part I can't be sure about. I would like to say 'no' the
Horcrux isn't coming into play, but there seems to be too much
evidence against it. Yet, at the same time, not enough evidence
to confirm it.

Consider, what we now know from DH about how the Horcrux reacts,
then consider that just a few weeks before the Horcrux was
within inches of its master, I can see how the Horcrux itself
might have experienced a little 'stress' of its own, and how
that stress might still be affecting it. Still, I instinctively
feel that any stress it was adding to Harry was minor

> Carol:
> 
> What I noticed in a reading of this chapter is the still 
> unanswered question of what caused the surge of electricity 
> to go through harry when Uncle Vernon was throttling him ....
> 
> 

bboyminn:

While a part of me wonders if it wasn't the protection
aroudnd the Dursley home coming into play, I am far more
convinced it was just a surge of spontaneous magic. Harry
was already emotionally on edge, then the pain of bumping
his head compounded that which was further compounded by
the sureness with which Harry believe magical active had
just occurred in his vicinity, then Vernon strangling him 
was the last straw that cause magic to burst out. Seems like
exactly the type of situation in which this would occur.

Excellent post as always from Carol, I'm not disputing any
thing she said, just trying to broaden the perspective a
bit.

Steve/bboyminn