JKR, Harry Potter, and the Nature of Evil

[meboriqua at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 19566

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Ebony Elizabeth Thomas" <ebonyink at h...> 
wrote:
> 
> My question is this:  What *is* evil, and how is it expressed in the 
Harry 
> Potter books?  Conversely, where's the "good" in the series?  Is it 
always 
> diametrically opposed to "evil"... or do they sometimes exist in the 
same 
> context, the same scene... even in the same person?

Excellent questions (and posting, too)! Something that I believe about 
evil is that there is no evil without good.  They must go hand in 
hand.  I mean, one cannot measure what good is without also knowing 
what evil (or bad) is - just like not knowing happiness without also 
knowing sorrow.  I would say at this point in the series, Dumbledore 
and Voldemort are the examples of the opposite ends of the good and 
evil spectrum.  

In HP, I think that there are examples of different kinds of evil 
(Amanda Lewanski said this nicely when she talked about Lockhart's 
behavior and how it was evil, but not too evil).  There are characters 
who do evil things, but that doesn't mean they are the embodiment of 
evil - that's Voldie's job.  

Rita Skeeter, IMO, does some things that are pretty damned close to 
being evil.  She will stop at nothing for a story, even if it means 
she has to lie, step on people, expose their secrets, and belittle 
them.  To me, those are definitely behaviors that are clearly bad, 
even if they aren't bad enough to be evil.  Snape also displays some 
pretty deplorable behavior - his insulting Hermione and taunting 
Neville certainly prove that.  And yes, just like what others have 
said, Lockhart's narcissism and disregard for the lives of Ginny, Ron 
and Harry are behaviors that are well on their way to turning Lockhart 
into what could be and excellent DE.

But are these examples the *embodiment* of evil?  Not separately.  
Voldemort is, though.  His thirst for immortality, murders of 
innocents, and "Kill the spare" comments go far beyond evil behavior.  
While Skeeter, Snape and Lockhart have behaviors that can be seen as 
evil, they also are people with emotions, desires, and regrets.  
Voldie has none of those things.  That's evil.  

--jenny from ravenclaw**************************