So, after Goblet of Fire, Harry is able to see what pulls the carriages because he saw Cedric die, correct? But he already witnessed his mother and father's death before that, so wouldn't he be able to already? Sorry if everyone has already noticed this... I've never been onto any Harry Potter websites before :) just wondering!
2006-12-20 02:51:50 · 14 answers · asked by dandelionwine 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
Thanks so much everyone!! that makes sense that he wouldn't really remember/ comprehend what happened. i'll let you all choose a best answer!
2006-12-22 05:01:59 · update #1
I will go with the idea that he did not literally see his mother die, but personally, I think Rowling may have made a boo-boo there. At the very least, she should say that thestrals are visible to people who have a memory of seeing someone die, or otherwise, cover the discrepancy here. Perhaps he was in a different room when his mother was killed, and he heard it but did not see it. Otherwise what is the sense behind the fact that, at the beginning of the first movie, the baby is actually quite calm, perhaps even smiling, when Voldemort confronts him and gives him the scar. If he had been in his mother's arms at the time, how did he get into the crib where he looked up so trustingly at Voldemort just before he was zapped.
2006-12-20 04:44:15 · answer #1 · answered by auntb93again 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because it is a book series where fantasy supercedes logic.
Logically in book 6, Harry could use the time clock to go back and save the headmaster or Serious in book 5. This is why I hate timetravel in books. You can allows go back, unless like H.G Wells you are wise enough to make it so you can change curcumstances but not outcomes.
The Potter series is still enjoyable, even if flawed.
2006-12-20 18:33:38 · answer #2 · answered by happymrzot 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Might have to recognize and understand the concept of death before the criterion could be met. An infant wouldn't be capable of doing so.
Harry's memories could be colored by his own imaginings as much as actual experience. People aren't recording devices, we really only remember the broad strokes and fill in the details to correspond with our own internal mythology of our lives. We are very skilled at unconsciously making up details to fill in the gaping holes in our memory.
2006-12-20 11:16:44 · answer #3 · answered by corvis_9 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
excellent question! you sniffed out a good loophole here. But there may be a valid explanation...
Harry may not have witnessed the actual deaths of his parents - he may have been hidden or not looking directly at them. All he remembers is the flash of green light. In the movie he is hidden in a closet and does not directly see his parents fall. So he didn't really "witness" the death, and he was too young to recognize it for what it was.
However, at Cedric's death, Harry both saw it happen, and knew it for what it was.
2006-12-20 12:23:45 · answer #4 · answered by teresathegreat 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is my belief and that of my teacher (whom both love Harry Potter) that the person has to be aware of what they saw when it happened. Also the book never said that Harry saw his parents die. He was there when it happened but as you know his mother was shielding him from when his father died and he was probably in his crib when his mother died so that probably prevented him from seeing her death.
2006-12-20 11:55:08 · answer #5 · answered by cheery 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He was a baby then--he might not have actually seen them die, or may not remember it. I don't think there was that much detail in the book regarding the death of Lilly and James.
2006-12-20 10:54:05 · answer #6 · answered by wayfaroutthere 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He doesn't fully remember his parent's death because he was so small when they were killed.
If you want more detail you can always visit the author's website: http://www.jkrowling.com. She may already have an answer posted with better detail or you could try to contact her through there.
2006-12-20 11:03:09 · answer #7 · answered by aowynladyofrohan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jo (J.K.) has confirmed that he was in his crib and did not actually see his mother die. She also said that he was a baby and wouldn't have understood the concept of death.
I have a lot of book 7 theories and information on my HP website
http://rpccstudent.tripod.com/
2006-12-20 16:22:05 · answer #8 · answered by kellyrv_bsa 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that because he was so little at the time of his parent's death, and he can't really remember seeing them die, he couldn't see the thestrals.
2006-12-20 10:56:34 · answer #9 · answered by greatgoddessathena 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe the book states you have to have seen a gruesome sight or experienced a tradgedy.
Didn't Harrys mom shield him from being killed?
I believe harry asked a professor why he could see them it does give a deffinition in the book. There was also a girl that could see them with Harry her Dad ran a tabloid newspaper for wizards.
2006-12-20 11:02:35 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋