"Choices, not blood" in Potterverse

[cornflower_o_shea]

No: HPFGUIDX 31540

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Gabriel Edson" <feycat at f...> wrote:
> It it's true that JKR is trying to emphasize one's choices over 
one's blood - saying that Hagrid isn't evil because he has a giant 
for a mother, for example - then why are Crabbe, Goyle and Malfoy's 
parents all at the DE gathering - and conveniently, CGM are HRH's 
worst enemies. Wouldn't it have been more shocking to show one of 
the other student's parent there - for instance, Seamus' mother? Or 
at least to have one of the three NOT be there?
> 

      I think that conjoined (that's my cool new word of the day, 
BTW!) with the theme of "choice over blood" is the theme 
of "following the easy path vs. following the right path". Those 
characters who blindly follow the path carved for them by their 
parents and teachers are less emphathetic, obviously, than those who 
think for themselves (no wonder pre-teens love this stuff!). 
Therefore we have Crabbe and Goyle who are the ultimate followers - 
of Malfoy, and of their parents. Like many children they absorb 
their parents racism/offensive ideologies unquestioning. This is 
completely to do with character, IMHO, and not with "blood". And 
let's not forget Barty Crouch Jr., as an example of someone from 
a "good" family choosing to go bad, so it can't be said that JR 
ignored that possibility altogether. 
     But I agree that it would be an interesting contrast to see 
someone having to confront their parents evil nature. How about that 
Grandma of Neville's? That vulture hat? The parents in St.Mungo's? 
That nasty Howler? Could it be a set-up for just the sort of thing 
you were mentioning? (She says in a moment of Ridikulus speculation) 

Cheers!
-Cornflower O'Shea