Fudge: Ever-so-Evil or Bumbling Fool?

[alhewison]

No: HPFGUIDX 42875

> Jodel wrote:
> 
> >Er, it IS obvious to everyone whose pocket Fudge is in, isn't it?
> 
Phyllis:

> > At the risk of sounding like an idiot, I *don't* think it's 
obvious  that Fudge is ever-so-evil.  I think JKR is intentionally 
trying to  make us vascillate between Fudge as ever-so-evil and Fudge 
as bumbling fool.
> 
>> 
>> I think the contradictions in both Fudge's manner of dress and in 
his  actions are a deliberate attempt on JKR's part to make us unsure 
of  his intentions.  And I, for one, have completely fallen for it!  
I think it's equally likely that Fudge is "blinded by the love of the 
 office he holds" and isn't accepting the fact that Voldemort is back 
 because it's creating "disruption in his comfortable and ordered 
 world" or that Fudge is actually in Voldemort's pocket.  I rate the 
> odds at 50/50 that Fudge will turn out ever-so-evil.
 
I agree with you. Fudge is often compared to Neville Chamberlain, 
British Prime Minister in the lead-up and beginning of the Second 
World War. In the 1930's "Appeasement" was really popular - basically 
turning a blind eye on Hitler's activities. This was viewed as being 
the "safer" alternative to another World War. Chamberlain famously 
came back from a meeting "allowing" Hitler to occupy Czechoslovakia, 
saying that this was "Peace for our Time". Chamberlain was the most 
visible symbol that people could simply not endure the thought of 
suffering on the scale seen in 1914-18, and allowing a dictator to 
take half of Europe was better than the facing it - with resultant 
blood shed. 

Chamberlain thus compares to Fudge simply not wanting to believe that 
Voldemort *could* have returned, and thus doing nothing to prevent 
his rise to power any further. I can see JKR portraying Fudge as a 
Chamberlain-like character. People don't need to be out and out evil 
to cause massive harm to the *good*side. If you were to take the 
analogy further, it's not impossible to see Fudge *giving* Harry to 
Voldemort in the belief that this would stop Voldemort's terror 
activities, and allow the WW "status Quo" to be maintained come what 
may.

Ali