[HPforGrownups] Why Peter Turned Traitor (was PoA Chap Summary 18-20)

[Melanie Brackney]

No: HPFGUIDX 21921


I understand your points, but I still can't work up more than the 
tiniest iota of sympathy for Peter.  My take on it is that he had 
some deep resentments of the other three because he wasn't as 
powerful or as bright as they.  I'm going out on a not-quite canon 
limb here and add that Peter possibly resented James' Quidditch 
skills, Sirius' good looks, and could also have, in a perverse way, 
been jealous of the attention Remus received from his lycanthropy.  
Maybe he was always treated like a younger brother who was never 
expected to be the leader or the bravest or the smartest and this 
eventually gnawed at him.  OTOH, perhaps J/S/R were too busy being 
clever to realize that they were reinforcing Peter's feelings of 
inadequacy.  That's where my iota of pity comes from.

Marianne

 

I think that at times even if you consider a person to be your friend if you don't excell at something you often feel very inadequate, even if your friends never make you feel that way.  I feel sympathy Peter only when I think it is very possible that he didn't realize how much the Sirius, James, and Lupin cared for him.  I also think that Voldemort and the death eaters have a certain allure about them.  They are rather accepting (to the people they wish to be) they make you feel apart of something.  They also possibly give you power, some sort of jobs.  I don't think that Peter just became a deatheater and they immediately said now go kill James and Harry.  I think that what happened were a series of challenges, all of which appealed to Peter's talents (whatever they may be) that made him feel better about himself increased his confidence and self-esteem.  I also believe that there was a bit of brainwashing going on.  Voldemort had Peter convinced that James, Sirius. and Lupin didn't care about him.  That it didn't matter.  I still believe that Peter is a coward, regardless, and really doesn't deserve much sympathy but I can understand why he did it I guess.  I just sometimes wonder why on earth the sorting hat put him in Gryffindor.  

Melanie






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