Dark is rising again - final post reread impression

[marion11111]

about it.
> 
> 
> Alla:
> 
> Right, I of course agree with you both that Merryman is consistent 
> and that way to everybody.
> 
> The point I am wondering about, Magpie, is why would you find him 
> more likable if he does not regret the things he thinks is right?
> 
> What I am trying to say is that I understand that his consistency 
> makes it easier to deal with him in RL, or someone behaving like 
him 
> at least, since he is a higher being or something and does not 
exist 
> in RL, lol.
> 
> But if he does not regret the things that he done, because he 
thinks 
> they are right, that makes him more sympathetic?
> 
> I mean, I am not asking you of course to defend perception of him 
as 
> more likable, since it is personal taste.
> 
> What I AM asking you though is do you think that Merryman is a 
> better "person" than Dumbledore is, you know?
> 
> As far as you could evaluate Merryman's human part of course.
> 

marion11111: 
I'm not magpie, but I am bored at work so if it's OK, I'll jump on 
this one too. :-)

I don't know that I'd especially like either one as a person.  I 
don't buy DD's remorse because after he says he feels bad he turns 
around and does something dishonest again. 

I would be terrified of Merriman but then I don't completely 
consider him human.  Will is initially frightened of him but when he 
himself becomes an Old One he isn't anymore.  We don't see many of 
his close personal relationships with normal people - just Hawkins 
and the Drew children.  To have some stranger snap at you or treat 
you impersonally isn't so awful  It's when it's someone you care 
about that it hurts.  What he did to Hawkins is horrible, he knows 
it is but as far as we know he has never betrayed someone like that 
before and may never have to again. And the Light paid a price for 
Merriman's mistreatment of Hawkins.  Of course, Hawkins paid a 
bigger price.

On a lesser scale, I see him also making use of the Drew children. 
They weren't endangered or betrayed the way Hawkins was , but I 
don't know if that's because Merriman learned from his mistake, 
learned not to get so close to people, protected them because they 
were young or if the opportunity just didn't come up. 

In my boredom, I just read another article about the upcoming movie 
and the director said that among the changes we have a "greater 
story arc" about Hawkins losing his soul.  Did I totally misread the 
book?  I didn't think Hawkins lost his soul.  He was punished, but I 
didn't think souls entered into it.  Of course, we will also have a 
fight in a church involving snakes.