Harry Potter... Wizardly Or Wimpy

After reading this book, it is clear that Harry Potter does not live up to his wizardly name while studying at Hogwart's, yet does contain the potential to do so. When Harry was wearing the sorting hat to decide what house he would be joining, it whispered that he did contain courage. “ ‘Hmm,�

Harry’s confidence is visibly emerging during a conversation with Professor Snape. Snape obviously has some sort of resentment towards Harry. He makes a snide comment about Harry being the celebrity of the class and purposely singles him out during their very first class. “ ‘Potter!’ said Snape suddenly. ‘What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?’ Powdered root of what to and infusion of what? Harry glanced at Ron, who looked as stumped as he was; Hermione’s hand had shot into the air. ‘I don’t know, sir,’ said Harry. Snape’s lips curled into a sneer. ‘Tut, tut – fame clearly isn’t everything.’” (Rowling, p102.) After being picked on by Snape, Harry responds with a disrespectful comment that results in a loss of points for his house. If Harry were the wizard that everyone believes him to be, wouldn’t he know the answer to Snape’s question? Hermione did, and she is not a reputable wizard. His lack of knowledge illustrates his inability to live up to the reputation that he carries. But his cheeky response to Snape’s abuse does show that the potential for the confidence needed to become a successful wizard does exist.

Harry is coy and timid and does not yet have the confidence that is portrayed by all of the other successful wizards in the story. “Professor McGonagall was again different. Harry had been quite right to think she wasn’t a teacher to cross. Strict and clever, she gave them a talking to the moment they had sat down in her first class.” (Rowling, p100) Professor McGonagall who happens to be a woman, portrays the confidence and control that a great wizard must have in order to be successful. Harry does not possess this yet. With Professor McGonagall being a woman, which is often looked at differently than a man perhaps, she possesses this power brilliantly.

One example of Harry’s budding confidence is displayed when the letters start arriving at the Dursley home. “ ‘I want to read it,’ said Harry furiously, ‘as its mine.’ ‘Get out, both of you,’ croaked Uncle Vernon, stuffing the letter back inside its envelope. Harry didn’t move. ‘I WANT MY LETTER!’ he shouted.” (Rowling, p31) Although Harry did not have enough gall to stay and fight for it even more, he did put up the beginnings of a protest. His strength is displayed when he really cares about something, like this letter. As well as this, it could be said that living up to this great reputation would have included using his powers before he came to Hogwart’s. Like in a situation such

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