[HPforGrownups] Chapter 13 - Mad Eye Moody

[Peg Kerr]

No: HPFGUIDX 3088

stevekimmel at yahoo.com wrote:

> Question 3: Why do we accept Moody's casual cruelty toward a student
> even if it's a slimeball like Malfoy?

The interesting thing here is that we judge a new character (faux Mad-Eye
Moody) based on his interaction with a character we know well (Draco).
And our attitude toward the character we know well influences the shaping
of our opinion about the new character--this is an effective technique
when an author wants to do some misdirection.  Have character A warn our
hero (and the reader) about character B--but the reader will disregard
the information if they perceive character A as stupid or venal.

Jane Austen was a master at this, and I know she's one of Rowling's
primary literary influences.

Peg