Neat poll :) A couple of questions were worded differently to how I think, so I'll just clarify:
In Harry cross-gen, I don't necessarily write him as the bottom because he's younger, but because I think he's essentially fairly insecure and would cede control, at least initially.
And I love Harry, but he annoys me frequently. He's like a younger brother that you love, but is repeatedly a stupid teenager no matter how often you tell him not to be. I never hated him, but he's not my favourite character, either: Snape holds that title, of course. :D
I just think it would be awesome if she decided not to do the whole saccharine happily ever after OBHWF ending. And I feel she's been building up to it. In HBP you really got smacked in the face with it, with the whole:
But he understood at last what Dumbledore had been trying to tell him. It was, he thought, the difference between being dragged into the arena to face a battle to the death and walking into the arena with your head held high. Some people, perhaps, would say that there was little to choose between the two ways, but Dumbledore knew - and so do I, thought Harry, with a rush of fierce pride, and so did my parents - that there was all the difference in the world.
I had a hard time choosing whether Harry was my favorite character or not. When I read fanfiction, Harry must always be one of the main characters. It's one of the reasons I don't read a lot of HG/SS or Ron/Hermione or Draco/Snape: it's all about Harry, in my mind. But at the same time, I didn't LIKE him much in OotP, or in some chapters of HBP. I think my indecision stems from the fact that his is the POV most of the time, so in a way I can't help but sympathize or empathize with him, and that's the perspective I most often read in fanfic. Would my opinion be different if the POV shifted more frequently in canon? Possibly.
It is all about Harry. But he is also flawed, and young. But so many people seem to hate or dislike him, which confuses me, as it seems improbable that one would even read the books if one hated the main character so much. *shrugs*
If I really hated a main character, I'd probably not continue to read a 7 book series. I hated the main characters of Wuthering Heights, but kept reading because I can't just put a book down without knowing how it ends. But I'd never read fanfic about it or pick up a sequel, if one had been written. *scratches head* I don't why people would continue with the series if they hate Harry so much.
I differentiate between liking him as a character (which I do, very much, because he's got so many facets) and liking him as a person (which I do most of the time, but not always). Because we don't always LIKE a person and their actions, do we? Sometimes they do stupid, immature things that we don't like, and sometimes they spend most of a book being selfish or capslocked, which is annoying. But the character is still one that we are intrigued by and want to read more of.
For example: my favorite character is Snape (no surprise, huh?), who is not necessarily a likeable man, either, in canon. But that doesn't stop him from being my favorite.
If I really hated a main character, I'd probably not continue to read a 7 book series. Yes, exactly!
I love Snape, too. But I like Fanon!Snape way more. Canon!Harry is why I am here. It's Fanon!Harry getting his ass kicked left, right and center that has me confused.
But this is research. Thank you for your thoughts on the subject. Cheers!
On #1- i dont think harry was born special/powerful/etc- but that people (voldie, albus, etc) have heard a prohphesy, and they made the choice to believe it rather than disbelieve it, and they have set it up as self-fullfilling. He's become special and has the ability to defeat voldemort, not becuase he has some special ability, becuase the people around him believe it.
For the question about: The Power that the Dark Lord knows not has been established as 'love' (HBP). In what way does Harry have this skill? View AnswersI have to answers- one is that in my mind he does/should have the ability to love others without bounds- HOWEVER i think either JKR doesn't think this or if she does, she's written it so poorly because in the books he comes off as so secretive an angry and a loner that it's hard to see him really loving anyone strongly, 'let alone'without bounds'. So I turn to fanfic
( ... )
Thanks for your insights. It's hard to do a poll when there are so many possibilities. I should just put 'other' for each question. *g* I find you self-fulfilling prophecy points very interesting. I personally believe that Harry is powerful, however, you make good points. I suppose I am just finding it a little disheartening the way people like to 'beat up' Harry in fanfic, and I wanted an idea of how people perceive him.
This poll is just the beginning. Thanks for dropping in! Cheers!
I tried to approximate as much as possible, though most often I went 'It depends!'. I *think* Harry might be able to defeat Voldemort, and is *among* those who are his equals, but I'm not even sure it might not be Neville after all? He *is* exceptional, but not super-special. I swear I'm not sure if it's Harry's ability to love or to be loved - both are intriguing!
As for fanfic, I've written him as everything except for hyper-superpowered, bottoming mostly with an older character, but less because of age, more because of inexperience/insecurity, and I can imagine him in literally every position with an agemate - in the right context :). I believe he'll defeat YKW at the end, but would be awed at JKR if he died in the process. *And* I love him dearly, but *because* he's so flawed at times :).
Yes, yes and yes. But I somtimes wonder how it is that some people :cough: always victimize him. Is it because he is young? Or is because he is the hero, and therefore must be brought down a notch?
I know the questions are a little limiting, but my quest begins with Top!Harry OR Bottom!Harry and why.
:cough: Because he's the hero and nothing showcases his strength/integity more than being victimised? Or alternately 'because he just *calls* for it'? Looking immensely forward to that essay!
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In Harry cross-gen, I don't necessarily write him as the bottom because he's younger, but because I think he's essentially fairly insecure and would cede control, at least initially.
And I love Harry, but he annoys me frequently. He's like a younger brother that you love, but is repeatedly a stupid teenager no matter how often you tell him not to be. I never hated him, but he's not my favourite character, either: Snape holds that title, of course. :D
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Thanks for popping in, though! I am trying to ascertain why people like to bash Harry so much, victimize him. It puzzles me.
Cheers!
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But he understood at last what Dumbledore had been trying to tell him. It was, he thought, the difference between being dragged into the arena to face a battle to the death and walking into the arena with your head held high. Some people, perhaps, would say that there was little to choose between the two ways, but Dumbledore knew - and so do I, thought Harry, with a rush of fierce pride, and so did my parents - that there was all the difference in the world.
As well as other things.
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*g*
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*snicker*
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It's a puzzle.
Cheers!
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I differentiate between liking him as a character (which I do, very much, because he's got so many facets) and liking him as a person (which I do most of the time, but not always). Because we don't always LIKE a person and their actions, do we? Sometimes they do stupid, immature things that we don't like, and sometimes they spend most of a book being selfish or capslocked, which is annoying. But the character is still one that we are intrigued by and want to read more of.
For example: my favorite character is Snape (no surprise, huh?), who is not necessarily a likeable man, either, in canon. But that doesn't stop him from being my favorite.
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Yes, exactly!
I love Snape, too. But I like Fanon!Snape way more. Canon!Harry is why I am here. It's Fanon!Harry getting his ass kicked left, right and center that has me confused.
But this is research. Thank you for your thoughts on the subject.
Cheers!
Reply
On #1- i dont think harry was born special/powerful/etc- but that people (voldie, albus, etc) have heard a prohphesy, and they made the choice to believe it rather than disbelieve it, and they have set it up as self-fullfilling. He's become special and has the ability to defeat voldemort, not becuase he has some special ability, becuase the people around him believe it.
For the question about: The Power that the Dark Lord knows not has been established as 'love' (HBP). In what way does Harry have this skill?
View AnswersI have to answers- one is that in my mind he does/should have the ability to love others without bounds- HOWEVER i think either JKR doesn't think this or if she does, she's written it so poorly because in the books he comes off as so secretive an angry and a loner that it's hard to see him really loving anyone strongly, 'let alone'without bounds'. So I turn to fanfic ( ... )
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This poll is just the beginning.
Thanks for dropping in!
Cheers!
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As for fanfic, I've written him as everything except for hyper-superpowered, bottoming mostly with an older character, but less because of age, more because of inexperience/insecurity, and I can imagine him in literally every position with an agemate - in the right context :). I believe he'll defeat YKW at the end, but would be awed at JKR if he died in the process. *And* I love him dearly, but *because* he's so flawed at times :).
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I know the questions are a little limiting, but my quest begins with Top!Harry OR Bottom!Harry and why.
Meta will follow. Hello essay! *g*
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Because he's the hero and nothing showcases his strength/integity more than being victimised? Or alternately 'because he just *calls* for it'?
Looking immensely forward to that essay!
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