More long HP&HBP observations
Jul. 20th, 2005 04:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dangermousieWarning: this is VERY long.
Harry’s maturity. How much do I love Harry in this book? Harry has always been my favorite character, the one I sympathized with the most, the one I followed, the one I will bawl over if he dies. But HBP was the first book where I really and truly fell in love with him. Not romantic love, but fictional character love. It was the first time where I found myself thinking: “he really is a lovely person, isn’t he?” It’s his new found maturity and determination that is responsible for this, I think. In many ways, OOTP was his lowest point, the place where he hit rock bottom and by the beginning of HBP he has fought an uphill battle to restore equilibrium and learn from his mistakes. The horribleness of OOTP events did one good thing for him: it forced him to reexamine and to think because he’s realized truly how awful his screw-ups can be. Sirius’ death did not break him. In fact, Sirius, in dying, gave something truly necessary to Harry. It was proven to Harry, beyond the shadow of any doubt, that he is truly loved, that someone loves him enough to die for him. For someone who felt so alienated the whole book, felt separated, lied to, and viewed as a freak not telling the truth, that is indeed a gift, however painful.
And Harry is much stronger in the beginning of HBP. Part of it is because the wizarding world believes him now, and because all the secrets are now in the open. He is not being kept in the dark. But part is because he does not want to waste Sirius’ death, precisely because of how awful it was. The deaths of his parents, which Lupin brings up in PoA (when he says that they died to preserve him and it would be a poor repayment if he got himself killed because he was bored) were in some ways abstract. Sirius’ death is not. But Harry learns to internalize his grief (his outburst at Mundungus is that of a grown man, not a boy). HBP says that he spent his time at the Dursleys not eating or moving or anything. But at some point during that time, he had the realization about Sirius not wanting him to fall apart and pulled himself together. Even though it happened off screen, I think this had to be one of the hardest and most mature things Harry has done yet.
And thus we get HBP Harry. Harry who is mature enough to go to Mr. Weasley, or Lupin, or DD if he thinks he has information that they might be more effective in dealing with. Harry who knows how to deal with Slughorn. Harry who “keeps his temper with Snape, no matter what (I understood CAPSLOCK Harry and he made sense, but it is wonderful to see that he can control his temper now). We get Harry that knows what is important at the end: he is going after LV, not haring off after Snape. We get Harry who is still young enough, and loving enough, no matter his horrible trauma and life, to joke with his friends and to fall in love with Ginny. Harry who keeps his lovely sense of humor (sarcastic and darker than Ron’s) and who has the grace of spirit to know what’s really important in people: when he gets invited to sit with the “cool” kids, he says no and points out, even without any desire to make a point, just stating his belief, that Neville and Luna are cool. And the best part he doesn’t even think about it, as anything other than what he thinks. We get Harry who is loyal to both his friends and who is open with them, and who navigates the rocky Ron/Hermione spat the best he can. We get Harry who has a relationship with Ginny which I can only describe as more grown-up and mature (yes I know I overused the word) than many adults manage. We get Harry who does something that he would rather not do, because it’s right and DD asked him (feed him from that horrible cup) even though he hates himself. We get Harry who gives up “his best source of comfort,” Ginny and the “sunlit days,” to keep her safe. We get Harry who is determined to take out Voldemort and his DE because it’s right and does not mind dying in the attempt. We get Harry supporting Dumbledore in the cave, but not in a fashion of a hero-worshipping child, but a mature and heroic man.
I have never loved this new Harry more than in his two interactions with the MoM. There is no shouting, only Harry’s determination and quick understanding. His showing his hand which still has the scars from Umbridge’s torture is quiet and done to make a point. He is a man of deep-seated convictions, not a child who can be tempted by a toy, and MoM realizes it right away. He calls Harry Dumbledore’s man Not a boy, or a stupid teenager, or anything of the sort. But a man who has different loyalties and I like how the MoM treats him as such.
Some non-Harry observations:
I have realized why I am so eager to have Snape not be a villain. If Sirius was my favorite secondary character, Snape was the most interesting. I don’t want it to go to waste.
And a really geeky question. Do you think Sirius left Remus anything in his will? I know DD said Sirius left Harry everything, but it would make more sense to say that then “yes, he left you everything except for a small annuity to Lupin and a ruby brooch for Tonks and a pack of chocolate frogs for me etc etc etc.” And if he didn’t, I wonder why? Is it because Lupin is now taken care of by the order? Is it because Lupin didn’t want anything? Is it because he did something for him pre-death? Is it because he had no time to alter his will? Yes, I know this is geekiness extraordinaire.
Also, a Fleur and Mrs. Weasley comment. I don’t think they will ever be bosom buddies. Their personalities are just too different. But I think they will be able to get along well enough at the family reunions, because Mrs. Weasley realized that Fleur has that one all important quality that she would want in her son’s wife: she loves him. Truly and deeply. And because she knows that, everything else is really immaterial.
(Btw, my husband’s comment on why Fleur fell for Bill: “He’s got an interesting job, he’s attractive, and he dresses like a punk.” LOL)
I also found it interesting that at one point Dark Wizards thought Harry could be the next Dark “It” Boy. Interesting. (Ch 2).
Also, the one nasty comment Ginny makes at Hermione (i.e. “what do you know about Quidditch?”) is not out of nowhere, I realized on reread. Hermione has been hammering on Harry re: HBP book. I think this is Ginny’s indirect way of lashing out at Hermione for being “mean” to Harry. They aren’t dating yet at that point. I love the little hints.
I also don’t think DD’s death is as devastating to Harry as Sirius’. Partly because it is in no way his fault (though Sirius’ arguably is), but also because DD is his mentor. Beloved mentor, even. But Sirius was his father-figure. The closest to a father he’s ever had. I do love the realization he has at the funeral that finally there is no one to stand between him and LV, as everyone who had loved him, tried to stand in front of him and died. His thought that he ought to have abandoned at the age of 1, the illusion that he was safe in a parent’s arms and the outside couldn’t hurt him, and someone would wake him from the nightmare, is heartbreaking. And my heart duly broke.
I do hope if he survives (please, please JKR) that Harry will have a new, readymade, warm family in the Weasleys. The boy deserves happiness more than most, after what he’s been through and what he is going to do.
How much did I love seeing Draco made 3D? I never thought JKR would do it, and I loved seeing it. Yes, he is mean. He is bigoted, and unpleasant and a bully. But he is not a murderer and he is facing pressure and trying to kill DD out of desperation and love for his family. And he cries and bonds with Moaning Myrtle! And that last scene of him with DD? Wow. I also like seeing that the Malfoys love each other. Narcissa is obviously a devoted mother who also loves her husband. Draco is trying to protect his parents. And Lucius certainly seemed to indulge Draco’s whims. So yeah, love it. (And of course, Draco is redeemable unlike LV precisely because he can love).
Next post: on Remus Lupin and how much he rocked in this book.
Harry’s maturity. How much do I love Harry in this book? Harry has always been my favorite character, the one I sympathized with the most, the one I followed, the one I will bawl over if he dies. But HBP was the first book where I really and truly fell in love with him. Not romantic love, but fictional character love. It was the first time where I found myself thinking: “he really is a lovely person, isn’t he?” It’s his new found maturity and determination that is responsible for this, I think. In many ways, OOTP was his lowest point, the place where he hit rock bottom and by the beginning of HBP he has fought an uphill battle to restore equilibrium and learn from his mistakes. The horribleness of OOTP events did one good thing for him: it forced him to reexamine and to think because he’s realized truly how awful his screw-ups can be. Sirius’ death did not break him. In fact, Sirius, in dying, gave something truly necessary to Harry. It was proven to Harry, beyond the shadow of any doubt, that he is truly loved, that someone loves him enough to die for him. For someone who felt so alienated the whole book, felt separated, lied to, and viewed as a freak not telling the truth, that is indeed a gift, however painful.
And Harry is much stronger in the beginning of HBP. Part of it is because the wizarding world believes him now, and because all the secrets are now in the open. He is not being kept in the dark. But part is because he does not want to waste Sirius’ death, precisely because of how awful it was. The deaths of his parents, which Lupin brings up in PoA (when he says that they died to preserve him and it would be a poor repayment if he got himself killed because he was bored) were in some ways abstract. Sirius’ death is not. But Harry learns to internalize his grief (his outburst at Mundungus is that of a grown man, not a boy). HBP says that he spent his time at the Dursleys not eating or moving or anything. But at some point during that time, he had the realization about Sirius not wanting him to fall apart and pulled himself together. Even though it happened off screen, I think this had to be one of the hardest and most mature things Harry has done yet.
And thus we get HBP Harry. Harry who is mature enough to go to Mr. Weasley, or Lupin, or DD if he thinks he has information that they might be more effective in dealing with. Harry who knows how to deal with Slughorn. Harry who “keeps his temper with Snape, no matter what (I understood CAPSLOCK Harry and he made sense, but it is wonderful to see that he can control his temper now). We get Harry that knows what is important at the end: he is going after LV, not haring off after Snape. We get Harry who is still young enough, and loving enough, no matter his horrible trauma and life, to joke with his friends and to fall in love with Ginny. Harry who keeps his lovely sense of humor (sarcastic and darker than Ron’s) and who has the grace of spirit to know what’s really important in people: when he gets invited to sit with the “cool” kids, he says no and points out, even without any desire to make a point, just stating his belief, that Neville and Luna are cool. And the best part he doesn’t even think about it, as anything other than what he thinks. We get Harry who is loyal to both his friends and who is open with them, and who navigates the rocky Ron/Hermione spat the best he can. We get Harry who has a relationship with Ginny which I can only describe as more grown-up and mature (yes I know I overused the word) than many adults manage. We get Harry who does something that he would rather not do, because it’s right and DD asked him (feed him from that horrible cup) even though he hates himself. We get Harry who gives up “his best source of comfort,” Ginny and the “sunlit days,” to keep her safe. We get Harry who is determined to take out Voldemort and his DE because it’s right and does not mind dying in the attempt. We get Harry supporting Dumbledore in the cave, but not in a fashion of a hero-worshipping child, but a mature and heroic man.
I have never loved this new Harry more than in his two interactions with the MoM. There is no shouting, only Harry’s determination and quick understanding. His showing his hand which still has the scars from Umbridge’s torture is quiet and done to make a point. He is a man of deep-seated convictions, not a child who can be tempted by a toy, and MoM realizes it right away. He calls Harry Dumbledore’s man Not a boy, or a stupid teenager, or anything of the sort. But a man who has different loyalties and I like how the MoM treats him as such.
Some non-Harry observations:
I have realized why I am so eager to have Snape not be a villain. If Sirius was my favorite secondary character, Snape was the most interesting. I don’t want it to go to waste.
And a really geeky question. Do you think Sirius left Remus anything in his will? I know DD said Sirius left Harry everything, but it would make more sense to say that then “yes, he left you everything except for a small annuity to Lupin and a ruby brooch for Tonks and a pack of chocolate frogs for me etc etc etc.” And if he didn’t, I wonder why? Is it because Lupin is now taken care of by the order? Is it because Lupin didn’t want anything? Is it because he did something for him pre-death? Is it because he had no time to alter his will? Yes, I know this is geekiness extraordinaire.
Also, a Fleur and Mrs. Weasley comment. I don’t think they will ever be bosom buddies. Their personalities are just too different. But I think they will be able to get along well enough at the family reunions, because Mrs. Weasley realized that Fleur has that one all important quality that she would want in her son’s wife: she loves him. Truly and deeply. And because she knows that, everything else is really immaterial.
(Btw, my husband’s comment on why Fleur fell for Bill: “He’s got an interesting job, he’s attractive, and he dresses like a punk.” LOL)
I also found it interesting that at one point Dark Wizards thought Harry could be the next Dark “It” Boy. Interesting. (Ch 2).
Also, the one nasty comment Ginny makes at Hermione (i.e. “what do you know about Quidditch?”) is not out of nowhere, I realized on reread. Hermione has been hammering on Harry re: HBP book. I think this is Ginny’s indirect way of lashing out at Hermione for being “mean” to Harry. They aren’t dating yet at that point. I love the little hints.
I also don’t think DD’s death is as devastating to Harry as Sirius’. Partly because it is in no way his fault (though Sirius’ arguably is), but also because DD is his mentor. Beloved mentor, even. But Sirius was his father-figure. The closest to a father he’s ever had. I do love the realization he has at the funeral that finally there is no one to stand between him and LV, as everyone who had loved him, tried to stand in front of him and died. His thought that he ought to have abandoned at the age of 1, the illusion that he was safe in a parent’s arms and the outside couldn’t hurt him, and someone would wake him from the nightmare, is heartbreaking. And my heart duly broke.
I do hope if he survives (please, please JKR) that Harry will have a new, readymade, warm family in the Weasleys. The boy deserves happiness more than most, after what he’s been through and what he is going to do.
How much did I love seeing Draco made 3D? I never thought JKR would do it, and I loved seeing it. Yes, he is mean. He is bigoted, and unpleasant and a bully. But he is not a murderer and he is facing pressure and trying to kill DD out of desperation and love for his family. And he cries and bonds with Moaning Myrtle! And that last scene of him with DD? Wow. I also like seeing that the Malfoys love each other. Narcissa is obviously a devoted mother who also loves her husband. Draco is trying to protect his parents. And Lucius certainly seemed to indulge Draco’s whims. So yeah, love it. (And of course, Draco is redeemable unlike LV precisely because he can love).
Next post: on Remus Lupin and how much he rocked in this book.
