The Dresden Files > DF Spoilers
Something Occured to Me as to Why the Senior Council is so Afraid of Harry
morriswalters:
It isn't that I think he's a lost cause. He's the hero of our story. But everything from the time he was conceived was meant to manipulate him and turn him into a monster who can and will kill. That's what Jim has written. And at the moment he attacks Rudolph he becomes what Justin meant him to be. This was Justin's plan. It's a classic recipe for a sociopath.
Dina:
I disagree (with that and with your previous post). Harry exploded in angry like most people would had, and the mantle did not allowed it to stop himself. But there were very extenuating circumstances. No one is going to kill his love again in the middle of a war that depends completely on him (he knows he is the only one that would bind the Titan, he knows the plan of all the coalition is on his shoulder). He is not dangerous for Maggie in any case.
"I wouldn't want him next to me in any capacity where I had to depend on him. Especially if he couldn't tell friend from foe when he gets angry."
Well, Sanya, Butters, Michael (and Mab) all seem to think different. Harry is not crazy, not is he going around force-choking people like Darth Vader. He is a good man at core and he loves Maggie.
It's the outburst what worries you so much? Would you feel safer around Marcone, because he is cold and calculating?
Arjan:
Rage is always disturbing because the person in rage can not be reasoned with and it is unpredictable how far he will go. Rage is scary and you tend to back away from a person in rage even if you know he is somewhat weaker than you. It is the height of irrationality. It is also one of the last defences of someone who can not handle a situation. It is bad news. We have a first person view of Harry’s rage here but a second person view would be much scarier.
Rage with magic is even worse in the dresdenverse. It can lead to decisions that have long term influences on you and change you in a different direction. This is not just scary in itself. It is even more scary because of how the dresdenverse works.
The person in rage always has reasons. Sometimes even very good ones. But he is always unreasonable, he can not be reasoned with.
Dina:
I agree, Arjan. I still think Dresden is not a danger for Maggie and I would lke him around me.
TheCuriousFan:
--- Quote from: KurtinStGeorge on January 29, 2021, 03:10:36 AM ---I don't disagree with you, but I'd like to to address morriswalters in a manner that gets to the heart of his argument.
It's not that Harry was reasonable. What is reasonable is to know that human beings can become irrational and violent when circumstances push them past the restraints of rational thinking and moral boundaries. At least Harry's initial response was understandable and reasonable to predict. I say this as someone who; when I was much younger had jobs that led me to be involved in several street fights. (I should mention they were legal jobs like loss prevention, bouncer and body guard.) I've been shot at; though thankfully only once and not on the job, and I've had more than one person try to use a knife or other edged weapon against me. I know what it's like to nearly beat someone to death. I also know what it's like to stop myself from doing so.
To me, there were two elements of Harry's behavior that stood out and are distinct from one another. The first was Harry's initial attack against Rudolph. I would expect that under the same or similar circumstances; not every person, but a large percentage of population would react with a similar amount of rage and violence; if they were capable of physically delivering it. What was more disturbing was how long Harry held onto that rage and that he seemed to be reveling in it. I think a much smaller percentage of the population would go that far, but I have no doubt some people would. When Harry lets his anger control him you understand why the White Council is afraid of him. So I partially agree with you. Harry, absolutely needs to address his anger issue before he goes too far one day and can't come back. However, I don't think he's a lost cause.
One other minor point. Mira mentioned adrenaline and its possible effect on Harry. An extreme adrenaline rush; the kind that's supposed to allow an ordinary person to pick up a car for a few seconds, only lasts for about 5 to 10 seconds tops and maybe only 3 to 5 seconds. I know because I've experienced it. It feels like a hand grenade going off inside your chest in slow motion, and every muscle in your body that's involved in the fight or flight response just sings with energy. I never understood why someone could become an adrenaline junkie until I felt that feeling. It was the scariest moment of my life but it felt SO DAMN GOOD. It did feel like I could lift a car off of a small child if I had to, but that wasn't the problem I was dealing with. From what I've read after this experience, your body still produces adrenaline after the first release, just not at that initial insane level. So I discount Harry's adrenaline level as being much of an influence on his behavior over more than a few seconds.
--- End quote ---
And if someone's REALLY got under your skin in the past like that you can can still give yourself a palpable (if lesser) surge of adrenaline just thinking about them.
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