In my own mind, when Harry was in the process of being sorted by the hat into Gryffindor, his choices defined the outcome. In spite of the fact that this idea seems to be the most logical, there is no logic behind the fact that everyone assumes the act to be one of natural traits. It would be impossible for any of us to believe that the Sorting Hat actually wanted him to go into Gryffindor, if that was in fact the case behind Harry's outcome. However, the hat did not choose to put Harry in Gryffindor based upon natural tendencies. Quite the contrary, in fact, Harry was placed into the House because of his own desire not to go into the house of Slytherin. He considered the house to be dark, nefarious, and without the fulfillments that one of the other houses could ascribe to him. He inadvertently seemed to choose the house that was the most contrary to the traits of that particular one that could be considered.
There were a variety of factors swirling around in Harry's mind during his conversation with the hat, but not all of them were surprising. They strongly indicated his need to become a part of the line of great witches and wizards, all with some amount of renown. However, it is nearly impossible to consider the idea that he was inept into Gryffindor's area of greatness in the most natural sense. The outcome of the war alone proved his qualities of strength. However, when placed underneath that foreboding conversation which he had dreaded since learning about Slytherin House, he indubitably wanted to be put into the opposite house.His natural tendencies were present when he was being sorted, but he chose to be put into one that used those qualities differently. At that point, he began to define himself as a person. He made a statement to every single reader of Harry Potter: the choices that we make define us, and not, despite what we may think, our abilities.
The natural abilities that we hone as people are inherent, true; however, this does not mean that we should be forced to use them in a certain way. As uniquely defined individuals we will always retain the decision to define the strengths that we have, and we will do this in an active way that is specific to ourselves. We do not compete with others without meaning, but with the strongest significance possible to our species. Man was not made to be a creature of subversion, but of accountability. This means that we always choose who we set ourselves up to be. Each trait that we have we use as a piece of creation- and everything goes into the scope of our fuller lives, because people create a pattern that moves them towards the circle of completion. Time and again through history, we have proven that in order to be really happy, we need to set down who we intend to be. We re-make and define that prospect until we are no longer able to speak for anyone but ourselves, because, as history proves- we fail within a tyrannical space.
Luna Lovegood had perhaps some of the most fascinating, riveting, but underappreciated qualities of all Rowling's characters. She was sorted into the house of Ravenclaw, but was perhaps much braver than the rest of Harry's clan. It would be nearly impossible to quote the number of different ways in which Luna's calm translucent air stood steadfast in all the faces which danger in the books presented. It was for this very reason that she was not able to connect with some of the other house students, and, indeed, students from the other houses- they seemed to think her strange and unnatural. The beauty of her manner however, stemmed from actual bravery that was created by not owning to fear in being the person who she was. Perhaps the most markedly defined of all the Harry Potter characters, hers was the ability to overcome, not only all danger, but the face of the wild and untamed land of fate when, in the depths of the war, the worst, blackest kind of circumstances surrounded . . .
It is hardly possible to say which of the characters was the most essential in the series, in spite of the fact that Harry was the protagonist. Severus Snape was an example of the type of person who had made poor choices early on in life, and then had moved back into the sphere of the light, forever making an imprint in the fact of the HP fans. He redefined himself at least twice in his life that we know of, revamping the manner in which he used his many talents. Harry, of course, was defined from the beginning of the time that he started Hogwarts.
Anyway, what I am trying to say throughout this discussion is that, although Harry had obvious qualities of bravery, boldness, loyalty, and oftentimes even rashness, they did not create his person. He created his person rather, through his talents themselves. We are not born artists, or poets, or lawyers. We have certain natural tendencies that develop into skills, but then we need to meticulously hone them. The way in which we direct them will ultimately direct our lives, who we are as individuals, and the need to use compassion when we speak to others. It is our choices that make us. We are not born into a mold; the best we can do is create it.
Please let me know what your thoughts are about all of this.
Thanks,
Emerald ~
