So. Voldemort obviously is aware of Harry having his wand. I WILL THEREFORE CONCLUDE! He wants Harry to have his wand. Why is that? It is not a mistake, it is a test.
If letting Harry have the wand is out of character as a mistake, but in character as a test, not only does that mean that letting him have the wand is a test, it also means that Harry should be able to figure out that letting him have the wand is a test. This ruins the usefulness of the test as a test.
I’m not positive I understand. You think that letting Harry have his wand either is or isn’t a sufficient clue to deduce that it is a test, and that
If it is a sufficient clue, Harry will know it’s a test. Harry’s knowing it is a test will ruin the nature of the test.
It if is not a sufficient clue, Harry cannot be tested by it, as nobody can be expected to deduce such a thing.
Therefore, neither option aligns with Voldemort’s goals, and the test is out of character for him as a rational being.
If I do understand, I think the this part of my post implies the response I will now clarify:
“But! For Harry to submit, and this of his own free will, this despite his apparent Plot-Induced Loophole, this is a proof of his self-mastery, and of his rationality. For to submit for lack of spirit is not the same as to submit for the understanding of its ideal nature.”
Allowing Harry to keep his wand is a sufficient clue that something is wrong. If it’s enough to make me feel confused, it’s enough for the more rational being Harry can become in this circumstance.
Harry’s deducing that it is a test does not destroy the test, because that is the test! ;)
To deduce such a thing is a test of rationality.
For him to be able to lose in such a situation is a further test of the great limit to his rationality throughout, his emotions, especially his pride, his disproportionate value of his own social dominance.
So it was a feasible test of his rationality on two important levels.
If letting Harry have the wand is out of character as a mistake, but in character as a test, not only does that mean that letting him have the wand is a test, it also means that Harry should be able to figure out that letting him have the wand is a test. This ruins the usefulness of the test as a test.
I’m not positive I understand. You think that letting Harry have his wand either is or isn’t a sufficient clue to deduce that it is a test, and that
If it is a sufficient clue, Harry will know it’s a test. Harry’s knowing it is a test will ruin the nature of the test.
It if is not a sufficient clue, Harry cannot be tested by it, as nobody can be expected to deduce such a thing.
Therefore, neither option aligns with Voldemort’s goals, and the test is out of character for him as a rational being.
If I do understand, I think the this part of my post implies the response I will now clarify:
“But! For Harry to submit, and this of his own free will, this despite his apparent Plot-Induced Loophole, this is a proof of his self-mastery, and of his rationality. For to submit for lack of spirit is not the same as to submit for the understanding of its ideal nature.”
Allowing Harry to keep his wand is a sufficient clue that something is wrong. If it’s enough to make me feel confused, it’s enough for the more rational being Harry can become in this circumstance. Harry’s deducing that it is a test does not destroy the test, because that is the test! ;) To deduce such a thing is a test of rationality. For him to be able to lose in such a situation is a further test of the great limit to his rationality throughout, his emotions, especially his pride, his disproportionate value of his own social dominance.
So it was a feasible test of his rationality on two important levels.