Chapter 13 - Mad Eye Moody

[Olivia Douglas]

No: HPFGUIDX 3097

The reason we accept Mad Eye Moody(who turns out not to be the real 
one) is because he appears to be the voice of reason when Draco and 
Snape are treating Harry with so much animosity.  My first 
impressions of Moody were that he was similar to Professor Lupin in 
his fondness and willingness to help Harry and to see Draco and Snape 
for what they are.  I don't believe that he was in any way cruel or 
violent towards Draco.  He turned him into a ferret, and while 
injuring his overextended ego, in no way harmed him physically.  
Draco had done a despicable thing by attempting to harm Harry with 
magic while his back was turned.  If what goes around, really comes 
around, Draco got what he fairly deserved.
--- In HPforGrownups at egroups.com, Peg Kerr <pkerr06 at a...> wrote:
> stevekimmel at y... 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