Why Peter Turned Traitor

[A.E.B.Bevan at open.ac.uk]

No: HPFGUIDX 21938

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., sprsun at yhim for it!
> 
> I guess I feel sorry for Peter because I just don't expect ordinary
> people to be noble and courageous. I find it very telling that even
> Prof. McGonagall couldn't bring herself to say Voldemort's name at
> first. A lot of people are weak and get frightened easily.
> 
> BTW, it's the same reason that makes me dislike Sirius' claim ""You 
> should have died. Died rather than betray your friends, as we would 
> have done for you." He's asking Peter to be a hero, and that seems 
> to me a really high standard for the majority of people. Like 
> Devika, I feel sad that there's circumstance that made him do the 
> things he did.
> 
> Hui


Looking at these discussions on heroism and failure in the Voledemort 
years I wonder if we are missing some of the resources Jo Rowlings 
may be working with?

Jo Rowlings was by original profession a teacher of French language 
and culture.  She has also worked for Amnesty International.

She was and is therefore aware both of the real histories of terror 
and oppression in the world outside her books and of  the literature 
and films of France dealing with these themes. For example those 
dealing with the terrors, betrayals, compromises and the ambiguities 
of heroism of the occupation years.

No I am not saying that the HP books are romans a clef for the war 
years. But I do suggest that there is some   profound thinking 
incorporated in these HP books.  We may find heroism and so on, the 
Gryffendor virtues, are not enough


As an example of the kind of French works JKR may have in her mind, 
have a look at the Louis Malle film `Lacombe Lucien'.  For a 
discussion see:

http://nef-louismalle.com/lacombeuk.htm

Basically, a young Peasant Loucien Lacombe tries to join the 
resistance in 1944, is turned down and becomes a Gestapo informer on 
the rebound. This gives him some status and self identity. He is 
responsible for many betrayals and deaths amongst his neighbours. 
However he becomes aware of what he is doing and saves two people.  
There is no ultimate happy ending though.

I was thinking of Lucien Lacombe as we discussed Peter Pettigrew
 
(and also stories from other tyrannies.  I could match this with 
stories from Soviet times and places)
 Peter Pettigrew  is only too 
believable as a figure in the story of our times.  And you don't have 
to be exceptionally weak or depraved to fall onto Pettigrews path. 

Siruis Black gave Harry, Hermoine and Ron a glimpse of some the 
complexities in PoA when he told them how Crouch set up a counter 
terror regime that used illegal methods against Voldemort, with 
popular support. That's another aspect of the moral challenges I 
think Jo Rowlings may want to explore as the series develops. 

To defeat Voldemort it may be necessary to call on the various 
strengths exemplified by each the Houses ,and guard against the 
weaknesses that come from those strengths. 


Edis