Pettigrew's Not Brave (WAS: Father Figures and Bad Choices)

[elfundeb at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 38188

In a message dated 4/26/2002 12:05:10 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
fluxed at earthlink.net writes:

> I personally think the SINGLE BRAVEST THING anyone has done
> in the entire series so far is Peter Pettigrew cutting off his own hand for
> Voldemort. Honestly. Could I jump in front of a quick and painless AK to
> save someone I loved? Could you? Maybe. Could either one of us _cut off a
> hand_, with a knife? I doubt it; I know I couldn't. (That's why I think
> Peter _was_ a Gryffindor. He has courage, all right. Courage, in and of
> itself, is not inherently morally "good." It just means a certain power to
> face things and attempt difficult acts). 
> 
Interesting.  I had just about reached the conclusion that Pettigrew was the 
opposite of Harry:  Far from having characteristics of all four houses, 
Pettigrew is fit for none of them.  Cutting off his hand, and earlier his 
finger, IMO is a simple act of self-preservation.  If he doesn't cut off his 
finger and stage a bangy escape, Sirius kills him.  If he doesn't cut off his 
hand in the graveyard, it's AK for him.  This is not bravery.  In fact, 
self-preservation is the alpha and the omega of his life.  He has no other 
ambition whatsoever.  That's why he tagged along with James and Sirius.  
That's why he joined Voldemort when things were looking tough for the good 
guys.  That's why he framed Sirius and was content to live for 12 years as a 
rat.  It's why he went back to Voldemort when his cover was blown.  And we're 
told that he's not clever and we certainly know he's not loyal or 
hardworking.  But they had to stick him somewhere.  So the Sorting Hat put 
him with people who would take pity on him, but he betrayed their trust 
anyway.  But by putting Pettigrew (who can be relied on to beg for mercy when 
all else fails) with people like James (who it is said would have shown the 
same mercy Harry did), he ends up owing them a life-debt.  So maybe the 
Sorting Hat did know best.

Debbie, apologing for ranting and nominating Pettigrew as Most Pathetic 
Character in HP as well as Least Likely to Be Redeemed


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]