Fortitude

[pegkerr]

I am thinking about Neville Longbottom again.

When I wrote my Seven Deadly Sins/Seven Heavenly Virtues essay on the Harry Potter books, I argued that Neville embodied the virtue of Fortitude:

Fortitude means strength, courage, endurance and resoluteness. Some might term it “grit” or “guts.” This virtue is the first of the Seven Heavenly Virtues derived from what the Greeks termed the cardinal virtues. Note the etymology: the words “fort” and “fortify” are derived from the same Latin root, “fortis,” meaning “strong.” Like a fort, fortitude is something which shields the hero under siege, like Harry and his friends, all assailed by Lord Voldemort. Fortitude thus is a protective virtue, both for individuals and groups. . . . Fortitude manifests itself both in active and passive forms. Passive fortitude means bearing things (ranging from the merely vexing to the dreadful) without giving up or giving in. For Harry, at a more minor level, this means for example enduring the jibes of classmates who mistakenly think he cheated to get his name in the Goblet of Fire (of course it helps to have Hermione sitting beside him intoning, “ignore them, ignore them, ignore them.”) It means stoically bearing the pain of Dolores Umbridge’s detentions without breaking. This kind of fortitude, because it is passive, can be easily underestimated or overlooked. A very subtle example of this, perhaps, might be Neville Longbottom, who earns Harry’s belated respect once Harry realizes that Neville has lost his parents to Voldemort, too. Neville carries on, nevertheless, trying to conquer his fear of Snape in Potions class, without a murmur of complaint, without even telling anyone. Just quietly going on about his life and humbly doing his best, while continuing to faithfully visit his parents at the hospital on his holidays, although they are unable to even recognize him. Harry is ashamed that he has never truly seen the truth about Neville before learning it in Dumbledore’s Pensieve, but it is understandable why he did not—this kind of fortitude does not draw attention to itself.

I was thinking about this, as I mulled over the movie. I have seen all sorts of squeeing on line about Matthew Lewis' performance (oohh so cuuuutteee! What a woobie! I luuurrrved seeing him dance with Ginny!) Well, yes, but that is not what I think about when I reflect on why I hold Neville so close to my heart. I admire him the most when he is standing out there in the corridor after the three unforgiveable curses lesson, gamely trying to pull himself back together without letting any of his friends see. It breaks my heart particularly because it's the kind of heroism that people will never notice. You admire Harry Potter for facing a dragon, and I do, too. But there are people, like Neville, who truly bear unbearable things every day, and no one is ever there to applaud or award them a Triwizards cup. It never even occurs to them that they are doing anything worthy of admiration.

Neville, I really do admire you. And to all the real-life Neville Longbottoms of the world: I salute you. May you someday enjoy the respect that you truly deserve.

Comments

[kristenj.livejournal.com]

Thank you! And, have you posted the essay you refer to, and/or is it something I could have a copy of?

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

The paper was included with the rest of the Nimbus 2003 compendium (see here) (can be ordered on CD here). Or if you wanted to read the original essays that the paper was based upon, they were posted on HP for Grownups Yahoo Group, and you can read them here in the files section (you do have to join the Yahoo Group).

[jbru.livejournal.com]

Will you allow me a wry smile as I recognize a lot of what I admire about you in this description?

[maribou]

I really enjoyed this post, and am intrigued by the idea of a full essay written by you about the sins and virtues as embodied in Harry Potter. Is it publically available?

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

The paper was included with the rest of the Nimbus 2003 compendium (see here) (can be ordered on CD here). Or if you wanted to read the original essays that the paper was based upon, they were posted on HP for Grownups Yahoo Group, and you can read them here in the files section (you do have to join the Yahoo Group).

[maribou]

Thanks!

[juliansinger.livejournal.com]

Yyyyeah.

Very much so. Thank you for putting it that way.

(I'm never gonna slay a dragon. Other things, however, are within my power.)

[incandescens]

On a slight tangent, have you read Garth Nix's _Mister Monday_, _Grim Tuesday_, etc, series?

While it seems fairly evident that the Days are being correlated to the seven Deadly Sins, I have a suspicion that the parts of the Will are being correlated to the Heavenly Virtues. (Fortitude, Prudence, and Faith so far.)

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Have you read Garth Nix's _Mister Monday_, _Grim Tuesday_, etc, series?

No, I haven't encountered that one, yet. Thanks for mentioning it.

[aome.livejournal.com]

I was listening to PS/SS while painting closet doors yesterday; in the bit after everyone gets Sorted and they're all talking about their backgrounds, that's when Neville first says he was raised by his Gran. It made me think about how, in GoF, when Dumbledore asks Harry (after the Pensieve scene), "Did Neville never tell you why he was raised by his grandmother?" and Harry is shamed into realizing it had never occurred to him to ask - so was I, as the reader. Neville is so quiet, so unassuming, so internally strong, that it had never occurred to me to ask why his parents weren't raising him. I, too, felt ashamed for not thinking to look after him, especially once we learn the truth. *hugs him*

[wildefan.livejournal.com]

I felt exactly the same way about that scene.

[alegriagraciela.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Peg! You've put it more eloquently than I ever could, because when I think of Neville, this is how I think of him. This is the Neville I love, have loved, will continue to love and not just because of Matt Lewis' stellar performance in GoF.

[yubsie]

(Here via alegraciela

Wow, you put it so WONDERFULLY.

[gamps-garret.livejournal.com]

Sitting in the theatre last night, the only time tears came to my eyes was in that moment of Neville standing so still by the window, and then seeing the stained glass portrait cry for him, as he didn't sob himself.

Crouch!Moody's actions in that instant convinced me more completely of his pure evilness than anything else in the story. In a way that the novel didn't touch, for me.

Since I was a little girl, I've always tried to emulate the qualities I respect in the characters I read. There's so much to admire and appreciate in HP, and there's so much of myself that I can see in bits and pieces of characters -- Lupin's desire to be liked, Hermione's want of all knowledge, Snape's tendency to lose his temper at the least forgivable moment. But the thing that I have always wanted for myself, that I know I'll never acheive, is Neville's quiet strength.

[charlietudor.livejournal.com]

I agree utterly--and I treasure the moment in the first book/movie when he's awarded points for standing up to his friends. He's really underrated.

[skylarker.livejournal.com]

Thank you; that's a lovely tribute to all the quietly courageous characters and people in the world.

[rysmiel.livejournal.com]

Lovely. Though prompting the wry reaction that I strongly suspect many of the world's Nevilles wouldn't have the first clue what to do if they started to receive the respect they deserve.

[queen-schitzo.livejournal.com]

That is exactly it! Thank you for putting into words what I've been trying to explain to my friends for years now

[coffee-n-cocoa.livejournal.com]

You said everything much better than I could have. I happen to agree that Neville represents fortitude more than any other character in the books.

The scene following DADA class and the Unforgiveables demonstration was one of only two in the film that brought tears to my eyes (the other being when Harry returned from the graveyard).

Anyway, before I get all long-winded...you explained precisely why a lot of people love Neville so much. Thank you.

[atheilen.livejournal.com]

I love this! *memories* Neville's one of my favourites.

[(Anonymous)]

I agree with this thesis. The funny thing, though, is that fortitude is supposedly what the Hufflepuff house is all about. So why, then, is Neville not a Hufflepuff?

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

I have a hunch: I believe that the hat almost did put Neville in Hufflepuff--I think that it spent almost a moment trying to make up its mind. But there was something else there deep inside Neville, that he didn't even suspect himself, that made it put Neville in Gryffindor. Perhaps, again, the legacy gleaned from growing up without parents--and with a battleax of a grandmother. A core of inner toughness perhaps. I don't know--I don't have the Sorting Hat's insight into human minds. Just an author's.

I also think the hat probably thought really hard about putting Hermione in Ravenclaw.

[joyfulgirl1013.livejournal.com]

Thank you for writing this essay. I've been meaning to put up one like it forever, but never got around to it (although perhaps that's for the best, as I take a much dimmer view of Harry). Just...yes. I have come to respect Neville so much because he has had every reason to be the person that Harry was in book 5, but he never was. And he doesn't have the friends that Harry does to support him or look after him or see to him after Snape's been particularly harsh. And that moment in the Ministry when Harry was surrounded and he just jumped in...wow. To me, in some ways, he's the greater hero comparatively, because he doesn't really ever have anyone behind him.

[veryshortlist.livejournal.com]

This is exactly why I lov Neville. He's the average person's hero, and I love him for being every-day brave.

[prettyquotable.livejournal.com]

Thank you for writing this. Neville is my favourite character, and he deserves so much love.

Great job!

:-)

[nellie-darlin.livejournal.com]

Oh, definitely! I've always had a soft spot for Neville, but OotP really cemented it for me. Certainly he is usually passively brave, but in OotP he is actively brave, continuing to shout "stupefy!" even with a broken nose. And also back in PS, when he stands up to the Trio... I think he is one of the most undervalued and most wonderful characters in the books. I'm glad to see some love for him.

[(Anonymous)]

Saw this:

and thought of this post.

From http://www.livejournal.com/community/_brill/4286.html , if anyone wants to snag.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Hey, thanks for the pointer!