Evil (Was: Robes + Ethical Snape)

[Megan]

No: HPFGUIDX 27862

Kelly wrote:
> >I don't think we can classify Rita
> >under that category of "truly evil".
> >If she's evil, then Dobby and Lockhart
> >are too...because they irritate me
> >just as much.
> 
> I don't think I quite understand you.  It sounds like you're saying
> annoying = evil.
> 
> >I think she's just there as someone to
> >hate and be annoyed with.  I doubt
> >she's even intelligent enough to be
> >truly evil.
> 
> evil adj 
> 1: morally bad or wrong; [syn: wicked] [ant: good] 
> 2: having the nature of vice [syn: depraved, vicious] 
> 3: tending to cause great harm [syn: harmful, injurious] 
> 4: having or exerting a malignant influence [syn: malefic, malevolent,
> malign] 
> Source: WordNet ® 1.6, © 1997 Princeton University
> 
> By definitions 3 & 4, Rita Skeeter *is* evil.

I am NOT saying annoying=evil.  I believe that for practical
application in Harry Potter, definition 1 is most APPROPRIATE.  That's
really the key--we have to look at evilness in a context.  What
constitues evil in Harry Potter's world?  In short, alliance with
Voldemort and other Dark Powers.

What /I/ was saying was that IF Rita Skeeter (who I find extremely
irritating) is classified as evil (by others), then Dobby and Lockhart
must be equally "evil" by THIS DEFINITION (IMO, since I find them
equally annoying as Rita).

I think these are two seperate discussions.  First we must find and
examine the parameters of Harry Potter evilness, then apply those
standards to individual characters in HP based on their actions and
intent.  A general definition of evil is not always appropriate when
applied to literary works.

Antagonist and evil are two seperate matters.

My reaction to Rita is that she is not the "evil" character JKR was
referring to originally.  She is scum, annoying, and extremely
slanderous, but up to the calibur of "evil" that we come to recognize
in Harry Potter.  Lockhart, similarly, is not evil as well.  After
all, though it may not affect the general public as much, he does ruin
several people's lives much like Rita.

-Megan (who, if Luke keeps posting epics like the one about character
development, is never going to get her college admission essays finished)