Fudge: Ever-so-Evil or Bumbling Fool?

[ancientlady2000]

No: HPFGUIDX 42899

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "alhewison" <Ali at z...> wrote:
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. 

Judging from his attitudes and actions in the books so far, I expect 
this is *exactly* her plan.  She has Voldemort as an example of power-
hungry evil, Peter as someone who betrayed his friends to cling to a 
more powerful master, and a host of other people causing bad things 
to happen for various different motives.

When I was reading this, a scrap of a quotation came to mind.  
Finally, I managed to locate the full quotation:

"All that is required for the triumph of evil is that good men do 
nothing" Edmund Burke

I think that's what she wants to bring across.  That evil is not only 
caused or helped by evil Voldemort-ish figures, but sometimes by 
people who - in normal circumstances - consider themselves "good", in 
that they lack the courage and moral fortitude to confront evil when 
it arises.  


Speaking of, here's another Edmund Burke quotation that fits the 
theme of the books as I expect they'll develop.  Dumbledore calling 
in the "old crowd" and Fudge trying to pretend that nothing is going 
on lest the comfortable status quo be upset:

"When bad men combine, the good must associate else they will fall 
one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle."
Edmund Burke (1729-1797) - English statesman

Ancient Lady (who is fast becoming an Edmund Burke fan...)