Character Critique: Harry Potter
I thought it might be fun to go through various HP characters and share our thoughts on each of them. What do you like best about the character? What do you dislike? Feel free to share any insights you might have, and of course, don't forget to respond to the poll above!
It's something that's been mentioned in topics on rereading/rewatching the series, but I have problems with Harry at very specific points in the story, and it sours my read of him; some of those moments include his break-up with Cho (the part where Cho condemns Hermione cursing Marietta and Harry supporting Hermione and saying Marietta deserved being mutilated), every single time he rushes off in the direction of a life-or-death situation that was completely avoidable (Philosopher's Stone, Department of Mysteries), abusing members of staff with untested charms (HBP's potions book), etc.
4 – Like him quite a bit.
I like Harry, the canon version that is. He's not perfect and not the best, but being the POV of the HP books, he's the character through which we see the events.
Things I like about him: He deals with his bad lot in life well. He's brave, loyal, kind and moral.
Things I don't like: He forms opinion of people based on how they treat him. He likes people who can be dicks as long as they are good with him and hates good people who don't treat him well.
I voted for "he's okay". Most of the time, I either have mixed feelings where he's concerned or just don't care that much.
I love Harry. One of my favourite characters in the series.
I also voted for "he's okay". Most of us are probably here because of him, which says enough about him as a character. But I'm not sure I like him as a person.
He has qualities I admire, but with him they're so intense they can be overwhelming at times. He is brave to the point of recklessness, selfless to the point of stupidity, protective of people he cares about (even when he doesn't truly know them) to a point where he's blind to their faults. He hates as deeply as he loves and refuses to see the good in people he dislikes (not only Snape, but also people like Mrs. Figg or even Luna). I don't think these make him a bad person, they just make him a person.
P.S. Only speaking about Harry as a student because I don't know enough about adult Harry to judge him as a person.
