The Dresden Files > DF Spoilers

Is Harry going back to his roots a good thing?

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Yuillegan:
I haven't made up my mind yet on this.

But it seems clear that Jim is returning Harry to some of his old roots.

Harry gets back his lab, his house, his pets, and now his PI life. All new and improved.

Sure, he's now also got two children, and lost two of his significant others, and his brother is imprisoned and dying/going insane, and lost the protection of the White Council/made active enemies of the White Council, and has far more enemies than before etc.

Does it all balance out? Should Harry try and get a semblance of his old life back? Is that really even possible? It it just regression? Does the story benefit from it? Does it make sense, given what has happened? Do we want more of the old Dresden, the old story lines and types, the original style?

I don't have the answers here but am curious to hear your thoughts.

Conspiracy Theorist:
It does if it shows you can’t really go back, everything is the same but totally different, he isn’t the same man and Chicago isn’t the same City.

Redepisg:
It makes sense psychologically for Harry to try to return to some semblance of his former life after the recent extremely traumatic events.  With all he's lost recently, it's no wonder, and add his impending wedding on top of all that, and well.  He needs stability, he needs a safe place to grieve, he needs the comfort familiarity brings.  And where was he happiest?  Certainly not anywhere from before he set out on his own and settled in Chicago, though McCoy's farm is probably a close second.  Chances are he'll set up a room with a bookcase full of ratty old paperbacks, mismatched rugs on the floor, and a star wars poster on the wall.

"You can't go home again" is a real thing.  Things will be different.  The people living there will be different.  YOU will be different.  Anyone who pretends everything is exactly the same as when they left is just grasping at straws and ignoring the changes wrought by both time and personal experience and perspective.

There is nothing wrong with seeking comfort in the familiar, but it can cause problems when it becomes a crutch.  Should be interesting, as always.

Yuillegan:

--- Quote from: Conspiracy Theorist on April 27, 2022, 06:51:29 AM ---It does if it shows you can’t really go back, everything is the same but totally different, he isn’t the same man and Chicago isn’t the same City.

--- End quote ---
So, would you say that it only works as a plot line if Harry then learns that he can't go back to his old life, and he can't be a PI in Chicago with his lab and all that? He basically has to lose it all again? I am curious about that. Part of me might agree, although I don't think Butcher will go that way.


--- Quote from: Redepisg on April 27, 2022, 10:27:41 AM ---It makes sense psychologically for Harry to try to return to some semblance of his former life after the recent extremely traumatic events.  With all he's lost recently, it's no wonder, and add his impending wedding on top of all that, and well.  He needs stability, he needs a safe place to grieve, he needs the comfort familiarity brings.  And where was he happiest?  Certainly not anywhere from before he set out on his own and settled in Chicago, though McCoy's farm is probably a close second.  Chances are he'll set up a room with a bookcase full of ratty old paperbacks, mismatched rugs on the floor, and a star wars poster on the wall.

"You can't go home again" is a real thing.  Things will be different.  The people living there will be different.  YOU will be different.  Anyone who pretends everything is exactly the same as when they left is just grasping at straws and ignoring the changes wrought by both time and personal experience and perspective.

There is nothing wrong with seeking comfort in the familiar, but it can cause problems when it becomes a crutch.  Should be interesting, as always.

--- End quote ---
I do agree it makes sense that Harry wants to go back to how things were. I just wonder if he really can, and if it is a good thing for him, or for the story? I am not sure I know the answers here so I am curious about what others think.

As much as anything, it's giving Butcher a place for Harry to have as an easy setting for scenes, and solves the issue of having a safe place for his loved ones that isn't Harry's best friend's house.

It also makes use of those diamonds Harry got.

But I think that you hit the nail on the head. Is Harry just burrowing into his old familiar things in search of comfort and safety from all the trauma and assaults on his life? Is he grasping at straws, as you put it?

Yes, it will be very interesting to see where it goes. My prediction is this will be the set-up until the BAT. Then all bets are off.

Mira:


 He now has two children, he cannot go back to his old life.  He also now has a reputation, it isn't a matter of what he wants, others will have other ideas.  His home?  Not a humble basement apartment, he now lives in an ancient secure castle. He will always make use of his roots, the skills, but he cannot go back.  There is a famous saying, "you can't go home again.." And it is true.

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