Why Harriet Spies

For Harriet, this is very difficult. Harriet has suffered very little, so she has trouble finding her subjects similar to herself. It takes time for her to become compassionate and understand others that have suffered, and thereby, lead different lives than her. Harriet starts to realize that she too is like her subjects because she suffers the loss of Golly. .
             Harriet has many role models such as Ole Golly, Harriet's parents, Mr. Waldenstein, and Dr. Wagner. Her role models have knowledge and intelligence (Wolf 55), and they are individuals and somewhat outsiders, as she is. Harriet's major role model is Ole Golly. Golly is like a surrogate mother to Harriet. Golly gives Harriet the mother that she, herself may have wanted (Wolf 56). Harriet learns from Golly that knowledge is important, and develops a thirst for knowledge, and a spy route to conquer it. Harriet believes that she can learn everything, and then attempts to so. Harriet develops a spy route as method of obtaining her goal of learning everything, even though Harriet knows that Golly would not agree with Harriet spying on people (Wolf 53). Golly tries to teach the importance of knowledge, but also the importance of privacy by not invading Harriet's privacy. Harriet does invade Golly's privacy, as she does with everyone, but Golly does not .
             let Harriet invade her privacy too much. Golly tries to direct Harriet's energy into something. Golly tells Harriet "[i]t won't do a bit of good to know everything if you don't.
             do anything with it" (Fitzhugh 24). Golly teaches Harriet to be honest, and not be ashamed of her honesty, so Harriet writes the truth. Golly tries to teach Harriet understanding, compassion and diversity by introducing Harriet to her mother. Golly also tries to teach Harriet to learn as much as she can about other people and their lives so that she may choose her own life. Harriet writes, "Ole Golly says that there are as many ways to live as there are people on the earth and I shouldn't go around with blinders but should see every way I can.