'Clue to his vulnerability' (Coming to a conclusion )

[Jen Reese]

SSSusan:
> That phrase "clue to his vulnerability" feels to me more than
> just "he's a regular kid who has to wear specs," you know?  What
> it DOESN'T show clearly is whether she was referring to his eyes 
> or to his glasses, but it was a pretty strong statement, I think.

Jen: That's a new thought, Susan, the idea the glasses *or* the eyes 
could be the 'clue to his vulnerability'. I've always thought of the 
quote (upthread) referring literally to Harry's eyes, that his eyes 
have a vulnerable property, and the glasses are merely protection. 
But if JKR is referring to the glasses, then maybe the quote is more 
metaphorical. Which is basically what Talisman seems to be saying, 
so I'll move on to her analysis!

Talisman:
> I would say the answer can be found, in fair measure, in SS at
> page 213: `"Strange how nearsighted being invisible can make you,"
> said Dumbledore.'
> 
> Of course evidence indicates that Harry actually *is* nearsighted, 
> but that's not exactly what Dumbles means, is it?  The symbolic 
> nearsightedness, to which I believe Harry's glasses are a clue, is 
> an inability to see the big picture.

Jen: So true. Sometimes I wish we could view Potterverse like one of 
those scenes in a movie, where you watch the same event from 3 or 4 
different people's perspectives and you get to see what bias each 
person holds. At least we have the Pensieve, to see certain events 
exactly as they are without personal beliefs causing 
misinterpretation. Many people have suggested we'll get to see GH 
through the Pensieve, and after its extensive use in HBP, I hope 
this is true.

Talisman: 
> We know Harry's been *invisible* for a about 10 years by the time
> he turns up at Hogwarts: not a picture on the mantle, people
> pretending he isn't there, etc. Among other things, this has
> engendered certain solipsistic modes of looking at the world.
> 
> Oh, sure, he rocketed to instant celebrity, but it takes a little 
> longer to develop insight into people and situations.  Some folks 
> never manage.
> 
> Our boy still has trouble reading what's going on (Hey, why are 
> these marionette strings tied all over me?),  though he is
> improving.

Jen: After a brief detour to look up solipsistic, I'd have to agree--
with a provision. Harry's view of the world is a double-edged sword. 
He can be woefully wrong in certain situations, especially when he's 
operating with half-truths and holes in his informtation. The tower 
scene comes to mind here, plus Quirrell/Snape in PS. When no one is 
interfering or witholding information, Harry can be a very good 
judge of character, i.e., recognizing Sirius was not as he seemed 
when Harry finally got the chance to hear primary information. And 
he made his own assessment of Scrimgeour and the MOM with absolutely 
no input, and more importantly, no witholding of facts.

JKR: 
> "He is vulnerable; he is frequently afraid; he has a very strong 
> conscience, and it is my belief that with the overwhelming
> majority of human beings--maybe I'm a wild optimist--most people
> do try to do the right thing, by their own lights." (International 
Writers and Readers Festival," Cinescape, 3 November 2000)

Talisman:
> Sure, everyone does what they think is the *right thing;* it's
> just that a lot of them are chowder-heads.  The trick is to be
> possessed of adequate *light* to see what exactly the right thing
> might be. Information /comprehension is critical to those almighty
> *choices* everyone is so enamored of.  Can't make meaningful ones
> without it.  Otherwise you're just left with a lot of pavers for
> the road to hell.  Chin held high, or not.

Jen: Lol on the pavers image, but Harry *is* possessed of the 
adequate light or the story will sink. That's why he seeks the 
stone, but not to use it, and gains courage from the phoenix song. 
JKR probably *is* saying Harry's vulnerability or weakness is his 
inability to read situations correctly, but no matter, he's saved by 
his untarnished soul at the most critical junctures.

Talisman:
> "Also, it will take 7 books to get Harry to the point where he has 
> to face, um I can't say. But in Book 7, you know, there's a big 
> climax coming here and it will take that many books to get him 
> there." ( The Connection (WBUR Radio), 12 October, 1999)
> 
> Face what? Love? Death? Voldemort? Dementors? Inferi? Hagrid's 
> cooking?  All old news.  Nah, he's got to face the truth of events-
-which is something quite different than he currently perceives.  
> He's got to finally see the big picture. 
> 
> Oh, Guilty!Dumbledore.  Oh, lovely Snape.  

Jen: Hee--you think so? Surely DD will get a pass now, being dead 
and all. Everyone looks better in retrospect.

As for what Harry faces, I've never seen that quote. I'll be a 
little disappointed if he only faces Voldemort at the end. Didn't we 
get that in the graveyard scene? Voldemort's demise needs to be 
trickier than a duel to the finish, or whatnot. But you will 
undoubtedly get your lovely Snape, he'll finally be seen for who he 
is before the end. Perhaps the reality will be *after* his end, but 
the hero will discover the beautiful and terrible truth.

> PS Thanks for the heads-up on that Hawthorne post, Jen.  No 
> reference to Hawthorne should go unacknowledged.  I actually
> posted on TOL to give our poster an answer.

Jen: I saw your post and learned something! Potioncat replied to 
you, if you haven't seen it.