Defeating the most dangerous dark wizard ever when you're still in high school? When your super-powerful, super-wise mentor isn't around to help you anymore? Yeah, that definitely involves bravery—and probably a little insanity.
Harry has been forced to be super-brave since he was eleven years old, so he seems to be getting kind of used to it. However, the dangers around him are only getting more intense: the Ministry has fallen, there are Snatchers rounding up wizards, Voldemort's snake almost kills Harry when it disguises itself as an elderly magical historian…there's lots of scary stuff to overcome.
To make matters even worse, Harry and the gang start out pretty much totally clueless about where to go next on the whole Horcrux mission. So, they spend The Deathly Hallows, Part I in pretty much constant danger with nary a clue about how to make it stop. Yup: Only a fair bit of courage will get you through that.
Questions about Courage
- Are Hermione and Ron as brave as Harry? How do we know?
- What are some examples of cowardice, and how does Harry react to them?
- Is Ron's defection cowardly? Or something else?
Chew on This
Harry's reaction to cowardice shows us just how brave and honorable he is—he usually just keeps on fighting and doesn't get judgey.
Ron's issues aren't about being brave vs. cowardly. He's just a little susceptible to doubt.