Quick note before the next question: LaShawn Barber has kindly linked to this blog in a recent post and noted the questions I’m answering. She writes:
I really want to answer those questions…but I haven’t had much extra time to blog here at FFC. If you have the time, you may answer the questions here, at Travis’s blog, or both.
I second her statement – feel free to compose your own answers to these questions! My answers are nowhere near exhaustive (they’re intended to be somewhat brief) and are usually written in small moments I get throughout my days. Any further input would be much appreciated. That said, let’s get to the next question!
Question: Harry is very angry in Order of the Phoenix – do you think his anger is justified? Why or why not?
This is a rather complex question to answer. There are perhaps some good reasons for his being angry and some bad ones. He’s exceedingly frustrated that, though he was there the night Voldemort returned, no one seemed to think it important to give him any information about what was going on, as evidenced particularly by cryptic, “We’re not allowed to say anything” type letters from Ron and Hermione. (8) When he finally meets them at 12 Grimmauld Place, he is clearly enraged that though he has faced greater dangers than perhaps even some of the members of the Order, he’s kept out of hte loop. (65-66) His anger is certainly understandable and perhaps somewhat justified, though he is unable to see things from anything other than his own frustrated perspective.
He’s also quite angry at Dumbledore’s silence and unwillingness to look at him. (152, 468) We would think, initially, that his anger is unjustified concerning Dumbledore. Harry should trust that Dumbledore knows what he’s doing. But even this is complicated by Dumbledore’s assertion that what happened at the Ministry, as well as Harry’s anger, is largely Dumbledore’s fault for making the mistake of withholding information from Harry for so long. (825-26)
Whether or not his anger in this or that part of the book is justified, one thing can be said with certainty: his anger is normal. A lot of people didn’t like Order as much as the other books because Harry seemed so troubled and angry and even mean at times. I liked Order better than the books that preceded it, precisely because of that reason. I had been wondering at what point Harry would finally begin to deeply feel all of the trauma he had experienced and no doubt internalized. With the past that he had, it was about time we began to see some clear signs of trauma from this poor boy!
Dumbledore affirms this when he tells Harry that his ability to feel is his greatest strength, something that will be strongly echoed and furthered in Half-Blood Prince. (823-25; see Half-Blood Prince, ch. 23).
revgeorge on 
Lily Luna on 
Arabella Figg on 
Travis Prinzi on 
Loading ...
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
totally agree, travis.
if harry continued to be a nice wide eyed little boy after all that it would show his emotional range to be less even than ron’s was assumed to be! an eye dropper perhaps?
he also has never been taught healthy tools for dealing with his anger and frustration. there wasn’t a whole lot of positive modelling in the dursley household was there?
i think it’s a real transitional experience and paves the way for a more mature harry in book 6 (and one assumes book 7).
i also read it from the perspective of one who was as moody as h*ll at 14 and manage to be (mostly) quite grown up in my dealings with others nowadays….
Thanks, Travis — I also find OOTP my favorite book and like “CAPSLOCKED Harry” — finding myself in contrast with most everyone else in Potterland — precisely *because* of the emotional reality, and the verisimilitude of capturing that moment in a teenager’s life. (Also found it the book I couldn’t put down on the first read — because so much *happened*!) So just glad to see someone else appreciate it instead of slam it as well.
–Janet
been thinking about this a bit. i’m reading a book on ‘boys’ (called ‘he’ll be ok. growing gorgeous boys into good men’) and it occurred to me that ron had kind of done this transition in goblet already. now it’s harry’s turn. makes sense in a micro way as ron is that bit older than harry.
jo
I don’t know if this comment will post where I want it, so I appologize if this comment doesn’t flow with the train of thought like usual. For some reason I am unable to find a “make a comment” section to the “Order of the Pheonix Filming” article. Therefore, I am commenting at one site with the name of the desired site hoping that it posts correctly. I just really wanted to say this and see what you all think as well.
I read the link about Helena Bonham Carter playing the part of Bellatrix and I was exstatic. I think she will do a great job! She is quirky enough to do the job justice. What do you all think?