Harry Potter is making a whirlwind on all of the book lists. Written as a child's book, it's gaining even more popularity with the adults. The stories are fun, and completely transports you to a world where magic still abounds and the world is separated by the Muggles (non magical people) and Wizards. Most people that have read it, can not say enough good things about it, all of which I must agree with...except about Harry Potter. Unfortunately, as a character, he is the only blight on an otherwise delightful tale.
Harry Potter is a young boy who has lived with his aunt, uncle and cousin, the Dursleys, all his life. His parents died while he was a child, and there is only a scar in the shape of a lightening bolt on his forehead as a reminder. One day, a missive arrives, inviting him to attend the Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and that's when Harry finally realizes why he has never fit in with the Muggles and sets off to find out about his parents and why they really died.
The story itself is charming and quite involving. I admit, that although I wasn't too excited at reading, yet another, book about an adventurous eleven year old boy, I quickly set aside my prejudices and devoured the story as fast as I could. It is fast paced, funny, and quite entertaining. The characters are engaging and the plot thrilling.
However, Harry Potter is the most obnoxious little boy to ever be a hero. The rest of the characters are wonderful (if a little flat), but Harry, the boy hero and adventurer, is annoyingly obnoxious.
Not only does Harry Potter never seem to thank anyone, nor does he ever apologize for his mischief, he constantly gets into trouble. Understandably, he's the hero of the story, and naturally, must get into some trouble of the plot to move forward, however he gets into unnecessary trouble. And worse of all, he gets his friends into trouble as well as his classmates.
Ungrateful wretch.
All right, maybe that's a little too extreme, but it's pretty obvious that Harry is either the most oblivious creature in existence, or just horribly rude. In the first book, Harry is taken by Hagrid, the kindly groundskeeper of Hogwarts, to prepare for school. Harry does not thank Hagrid for his kindness, but rather, seems to have expected it, as if it was Hagrid's duty to care for him. Then, when Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogswarts, gives him a brand new broom (top of the line!), Harry does not thank Dumbledore, but rather, start looking at the Nimbus 2000 broom (the latest and greatest), in the next book.
Ron, Harry's best friend, seems to constantly get the short end of this flaw in Harry's character. When Harry convinces Ron to drive his father's flying automobile to school when they miss the train, not only gets Ron and his family into trouble, but Ron also breaks his wand, which he can't replace, because his family is too poor. Harry, with all the gold and riches his family left him, does not offer to buy Ron a new wand, nor does the thought ever occur to him, to help his friend by buying Ron, Christmas and birthday gifts of supplies and trinkets that he needs and wants (actually, there are never any mention of Harry buying anything for anyone). When Ron's mother knits Harry a sweater, Harry dutifully puts it on, but Harry doesn't even write her a thank you note. Ron's family is obvious poor, with seven children to raise and feed, so Harry's visit obviously stretched the family budget. Harry knows this, but he does not offer to pay for anything (not that they would have taken it), nor does Harry even buy a gift of appreciation, but once again, seems to take everything for granted.
It isn't that Harry is ungrateful (well, actually, in the third book, he is rather ungrateful), but just...unthoughful of others. Not really qualities that an intrepid hero should have. However, it isn't his mere ingratitude that rankles, but that he doesn't heed others, causing problems - often at someone else's expense.
His two friends, Ron and Hermione, are often unwittingly, caught up in Harry's adventures to their detriment. It's almost as if they are cannon fodder for Harry's adventures. In the first book, when they had to travel the various traps that their teachers set up to protect the Stone, Ron sacrifices himself, in the live game of Wizard Chess, so that Harry could advance, and Hermione, solved the secret of the potions (even though Harry had been extremely unkind to her previously). Harry eventually saves the Stone from being taken by Voldemort (He Who Shalt Not Be Named), but whereas he is touted as the hero, his two friends, that did the "grunt work" were just given a pat on the head.
Then later when everyone was trying to protect Harry from Sirius Black, Harry, ignores everyone's warning and sneaks off to the village to enjoy candies. He didn't feel any remorse nor any discomfort at the idea that he was not only deceiving the very people that were trying to protect him, nor with putting everyone else at risk. It doesn't even occur to him that the reason that the Dementors were prowling around the school, terrifing his classmates, were because of him, anyways.
Then, when Hermione's cat seemingly ate Ron's rat, Harry, without listening to Hermione's side, forgetting all the help that she has given him, and for everything she has done, immediately turns his back on her. Hermione, trying to help Hagrid's Hippoggriffs (although Harry promised to help too, he quickly forgot), and under even more pressure for taking double classes (which Harry doesn't even realize, nor bothers to question her about - what a friend!), breaks down. Harry, who is supposed to be the epitome of all that is good, doesn't offer Hermione any solstice until Hagrid mentions it to Harry. And even then, it is Ron that makes the first move toward friendship with Hermione.
Such behavior is typical of Harry's complete disregard of the world around him. He forgets his promise to Hagrid, using the Dementors as an excuse, but Hermione, with the stress of her classes and the loss of her friends, is still able to attend to everything and keep her promise to help. Although the dispute between Hermione and Ron didn't involve Harry, he still chose to choose sides without hearing from both sides, and shuns Hermione (only to find out later that her cat was helping things).
The Harry Potter books are extremely wonderful. Ron is a lively character, and Herimone is delightful. Harry can be a charming individual, once he gets over feeling sorry for himself and being completely oblivious and ungrateful. The books themselves are fabulous, and the plots are fast paced and engaging, but Harry Potter's character leaves much to be desired. His attitudes, however are atrocious and makes his readers unsympathetic to his plight. It almost makes one want to root for Voldemort, and maybe he can smack some sense into Harry.