Voldemorts Sphere of Influence/WWII parallels

[foxmoth at qnet.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 11554

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Emily Owens" <bradamant at h...> wrote:
. Given the level of skepticism with which many of the characters 
> regard these claims, it seems that JKR is throwing her lot in with the 
> Goldhagen/individual-responsibility view.
> 
> Does anyone else see this in the books? I studied the period, so perhaps I 
> am over-inclined to see reflections of it everywhere. OTOH, I feel that the 
> books are capable of this level of seriousness.

I agree with you on the level of seriousness, but I think you are 
misreading JKR's views on responsibility.  Sirius says  that Voldemort 
"can control people so that they do terrible things, without being able 
to stop themselves." This indicates to me that being under the Imperius 
curse does absolve one from responsibility, and the skepticism is 
because it is hard to figure out after the fact if someone was  
actually enchanted or only pretending.
	In JKR's world it appears that "I was only following orders" is a 
valid defense, as long as you can convince the court that the orders 
were given under the Imperius Curse. 

Pippin