[ SECRET POST #1575 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #1575 ⌋


Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.


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TRIGGER WARNING FOR SEXUAL/EMOTIONAL ABUSE

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TRIGGER WARNING FOR INCEST, RAPE

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 06 pages, 132 secrets from Secret Submission Post #225.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 1 - not!secrets ], [ 1 - not!fandom ], [ 1 - too big ], [ 0 - repeats ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments and concerns should go here.

Comments

[cyren-2132.livejournal.com]

I'm...not sure I accept the premise that the Dursley's beat all the curiosity out of him.

[math-camel.livejournal.com]

Maybe not physically beat him but my idea is that they cursed his curiosity as a child and it lingers with him. He doesn't ask specific questions outside of correcting the lies he'd been told. I mean, I'd want to learn my entire family tree looking for nicer relatives or my family home or anything but he's had 11 years of "Sit down and shut up" that he lost that drive.

Either that or it's kind of a plot hole that Harry never looks deeper into his world so you can imagine which option I prefer.

[cyren-2132.livejournal.com]

My objection is not so much based on whether the Dursleys physically beat him, but that their treatment squashed his ability/drive to ask a whole lot of questions -- mainly because I think asking questions and questioning authority are very closely related matters, and we've seen he clearly has no problem questioning authority (which, if all their "sit down, shut up) had a lasting negative effect on him, I'd think he'd be hesitant to do that.

I think one of the things that makes Harry such a heroic figure is his ability to overcome all the crap the Dursleys threw at him. He rises above without losing his compassion, his sense of wonder or courage. He comes from a bad situation, but he doesn't become an angry, bitter boy/teen/man over it. (Conversely, Snape is kind of a tragic figure, but that's fodder for another comment).

And I <>do get the impression that Harry loves and is awed by the magical world so much moreso than the muggle world, which is why his disinterest in the history of it all is something I can't personally understand, because it wouldn't be my choice at all.

But Harry's always been shown to take things at face value. I don't think he looks particularly deeply into the how and why of things unless he's prompted to, but I don't really see that as a plot hole at all. More of a character flaw, which doesn't bother me that much.

And while Remus and Sirius would have been excellent people to ask for more information about his parents, I kind of get the impression that there wasn't a lot of time for Potter Family Story Hour. As for never asking Dumbledore or any of the older Weasleys...I kind of feel like that's a symptom of Harry's failure to look deeper. And that can be frustrating for the reader, sure, but I think it makes perfect sense for the character as presented.

[math-camel.livejournal.com]

I can understand and accept that character interpretation but to me curiosity and questioning authority aren't that related. If anything I think the Dursley's left him with a real dislike of authoritarian figures which would leave him more likely to call people on their BS. I guess I just find it more intriguing to see his abuse as having a lasting effect sort of like how his slight frame was referenced as being because he was kept under the stairs and never fed enough for a growing boy. I don't think he has to be broken, and I don't think he is, but I just find it more interesting to draw connections between his past treatment and his behavior.

I don't think he's disinterested in the magical world at all, in fact I know he isn't but he never looks deeper into things for himself. He'll read his textbook but he won't look up pictures of his mom or dad in the Hogwarts school yearbook equivalent, and we know such things exist because Hermione found out about Snape's mom.

There wasn't ever really a time in the story or plot for a long description of Lily or James but considering Harry spent 7 years at their old school or with their old friends he never learns anything about them on his own. At least, not that I can recall. All his knowledge of them is given, almost always unprompted except for that one time with Hagrid, by these people that spend weeks cleaning out rooms with him or teach his classes and he still has no idea where they lived or what James' family was like. (I'm only even mentioned those because they end up being plot relevant.) We learn nothing about his grandparents in the books, we have to rely on Word of Rowling. Considering Harry isn't so dense on all other topics and the average person would want to know more on this subject I will continue to assume spending 11 years with people who forbid his questioning the past influenced him. Maybe he'll get better at it in his adult hood, maybe someone will recommend a good therapist/counselor after the war, but as a future auror he's going to need to get a bit more interested in facts that aren't just laid out before him and I don't see that being a good career for him if it's just a regular personality trait.