Draco is Evil

[fourfuries at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 25194

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Milz" <absinthe at m...> wrote:
> I think the more ponder-ful question is 'has Draco shown, 
> canonnically,  that he has the strength of character to break from 
> the Death Eaters and Voldemort?' Or is he the stereotypic bully who 
> is really spineless without the support of his friends and will go 
>along with Voldemort because he doesn't have the courage to break   
> free? 

What a Ponderful question :0)!  I don't believe Draco has displayed 
the slightest inclination to resist the Dark Wizards.  Not only is 
the return of Voldemort a cause for celebration, in his mind, he 
clearly expects his family to benefit from Voldemort's return.  One 
would have to conclude that he KNEW his father had something to do 
with the second opening of the Chamber.  He clearly knew that his 
father was out torturing the muggles at the Quidditch world 
championships in GoF.  AND he is proud of the fact.

Draco is the embodiment of the "Hitler Youth" charaterization, and he 
is no one-dimensional foil either.  He, like his father, has some 
craft, is relentless in his hate, and ever vigilant in defense of his 
false superiority.  He wants Voldemort to win, because that's the 
direction he has accepted for his own future.

By way of evidence of capacity of a 14 year old to make such a 
decision, I offer the following:

1.  Child psychologist largely accept the age of 7 as the Age of 
Reason,i.e., the age at which a child can predict cause and effect.

2.  Those same psychologists posit the age of 11 as the age at which 
the normally developing child becomes capable of abstract thought, 
i.e., when their conscious ability catches up with their innate 
creativity to conceive things that are not.

3.  Many private preparatory schools in the U.S. ask students to 
begin charting their careers in the 8th grade, at age 13.  While the 
student is not locked in, the administrators evidently think the 
student is mature enough not only to consider his strengths, 
weaknesses and interests, but also responsible enough to start making 
some plans and decisions based on those characteristics and 
preferences.

Draco can be held responsible for the pernicious intent of his 
actions, just as Sirius Black can be.  The difference is in 
repentance, forgiveness and subsequent enlightenment.  Black has 
these latter things.  It remains to be seen whther Draco Malfoy ever 
will.

4FR (willing to pass judgement on the "pure-bloods")