[HPforGrownups] Re: Lily/Snape, racism/Draco/Slytherins/Quirrell

[tillrules at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 25296

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., tillrules at a... wrote:
> 
> The flaw in this argument at least in regards to Draco, is that 
there's no 
> indication that Draco has any inclination to change his racist 
thoughts and 
> his continuing pattern of trying to hurt others. 


Now would not be the right time to *outwardly* show an inclination to 
change his hatred of muggles.   I don't think that would go over well 
with Lucius and the other DE's.  We know that the Malfoy family is 
deep into the dark arts.  Who knows what Draco has seen growing up?  
Could he not be afraid of what might happen now that Voldemort is 
back?  What is Draco suppose to do?  I'm just saying that Draco might 
come to the point when he does want to make a stand for the good. 
It's still too early to say he will turn out evil.   

> I think the post before about the two Draco's is particularly 
>accurate.  
> Redemption is a powerful draw to a lot of people.  So Draco, as 
>such a jerk, 
> is an appealing subject for a fantasy of redemption.  So people are 
>willing 
> to extend him the benefit of the doubt for his actions (it's for 
>his dad, 
> etc...) to make him seem redeemable.  But in the end, I just don't 
>see him as 
> redeemable.

As of yet Draco has done nothing that he needs to be redeemed for. As 
far as we know he isn't a DE and he hasn't killed anyone. He is a 
student who has only made some ugly comments. I believe one has to 
take responsibility for their actions so I'm not saying Draco is 
innocent because his father made him do it (such as the Hagrid 
scene).  I'm saying that Lucius is probably a big influence in 
Draco's life right now and it will be up to Draco to decide whether 
he wants to be like dad or wants to live differently.   Put yourself 
in Draco's place.  If Draco doesn't want to be associated with the 
DE's and Voldemort, what should he do?  Where can he go?  Is there 
anyone who can help him? There is no way I can see Draco going to 
Dumbledore but I can see him going to Snape for help.

On the other hand Draco might just love being a racist and will join 
the ranks of Voldemort as soon as possible.  However, I still say he 
has done nothing that pushes him beyond the hope of joining with 
Dumbledore one of these days.   

Koinonia 

Again, this argument stems on the possibility of their being an event strong enough to make him want to change.  But we have not been presented with a single redeeming characteristic of this character in four books.  While it is true that it would be early to reform the character, it is not too early to at least give some inkling that the potential exists and frankly JKR has not.  

The character in every scene he has been in has been shown to have no redeeming characteristics.  There is no evidence of, for example, the "his father forces him to do it" argument that is so popular by the character's defenders.  He does it b/c he likes to cause pain, there is no evidence of any other reason.

Again, his action are more than just child's pranks (another popular defense).  He held onto a charade for weeks to get Hagrid fired.  He engaged in an ongoing series of information exchanges with Rita Skeeter to create trouble for Harry & Hermione.  

There is simply no evidence of him having any chance of redemption.  Yes, in theory, it may be too early to say that he could not be redeemed, but any redemption would have to reverse the events of the last 4 books completely, because as of this time, he is compltely unredeemable.