[HPforGrownups] Re: Lockhart - Yuck!

[Susan Hall]

No: HPFGUIDX 19489

>Oh, Tolkien does do that too, I think.  Gandalf's White opposing
number is playing his own game (shows up again at the end, too),
>and so, after all, is Gollum.

Must disagree on that one, I'm afraid.  Saruman *thinks* he's playing his
own game, but Tolkein says when they all arrive at Isengard  that it is
merely a pale shadow and copy (oh, God, another platonist) of Barad-dur, and
when Frodo comments that the wreck of the shire (Saruman and Grima's work)
is just as bad as Mordor Gandalf tells him that it "is" mordor - ie, evil
characters are working for Sauron whether they think they are or not.  And
Tolkein explained that Gollum would be damned even though his last act was
beneficial.

By contrast, Lockhart is an evil menace and Snape, for example, is just as
much of a total git considered as a teacher (and people will remember the
truly ghastly experiences they had in his class for just as long) whether or
not they're  working for or against Voldemort or even whether they've ever
*heard* of Voldemort.

Susan