Official Discussion Questions for the next Few Months: Question #1

[jenny_ravenclaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 37263

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Penny Linsenmayer <pennylin at s...> wrote:
 
> In GoF, Ron remarks, 'Percy loves rules,' and he wonders whether his 
brother would send a family member to Azkaban if it would advance his 
career (GoF, pg 463).  Reflect on the role of bureaucracy in the 
novels.  Does his tendency to side with bureaucracy make Percy 
susceptible to the same sorts of errors made by Cornelius Fudge and 
Barty Crouch, Sr., errors that ultimately (if unintentionally) help 
Lord Voldemort?  Might we expect him - albeit unwillingly - to aid 
Voldemort by following the letter of the law instead of its spirit?  
Will he side with Crouch or with his family?>

First of all, Penny, I am truly impressed with the effort you put into 
this question.  If we weren't all distracted with Evil John... well, 
he shall suffer, do not worry!

Anyway, I am most definitely a member of P.I.N.E., but I worry about 
Percy just the same.  My response to your many excellent questions is 
not as lengthy as yours, but I believe it just the same.  Percy is not 
a bad guy by any means.  He very much the big brother who gets 
irritated with his younger siblings and he does care for his family.  
I think his ambitions for success are as much to please mom and dad as 
they are just to be successful.  I also think Percy feels lonely a 
good deal of the time and would love for his siblings to give him more 
of a chance; listen to his ideas, give some real feedback, etc.  This 
is not someone who would simply turn in a family member to further his 
own career.

However, Percy has not always been known to make the best decisions.  
He was downright daft when it came to Crouch Sr.  So openly and 
blindly admiring someone who Percy didn't know well and who didn't 
even know Percy's name... that is problematic.  Percy has the tendency 
to think someone is right simply because that person has a position of 
authority.  I believe that Percy will cause some damage (just how I am 
not sure) but I also believe that he will go against someone above him 
(Fudge, perhaps) when his back is to the wall.  I think in the end, 
Percy will go with his family.  The Weasleys have raised their 
children to support each other and with a lot of love.  This has 
reached Percy, too, who also seems to be someone who would respond 
quite powerfully to guilt.  Unfortunately, I think Percy has a price 
to pay for this and he won't end up the arrogant, eager to please 
person he started.

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