[HPforGrownups] Seeking: Is it meant to be a good thing?

[eloiseherisson at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 48185

Melody:
> So I ask, is this inconsistent?  Is the problem supposed to be the act
> of seeking on Voldemort's and Crouch Sr.'s behalf, or is it that they
> went *too* far in their seeking?  And if the answer is that 'they went
> too far', then please explain why it is ok for Harry?  Is there is a
> limit to how far one should go in seeking power?  One should not, say,
> break their arm for a silly thing like power?  <g>
> 
> And yet, the creed does not say that.  It is the *seeking* that is
> bad.  It is the seeking that taints well-meaning people.
> 
> Please show me where my logic is wrong.  This greatly bothers me.
> 
> Is the act of seeking shown as wrong in the series?
> 

I'm feeling a little too tired to do justice to this, but I wanted to reply, 
if only briefly, because it's such an interesting and thought-provoking 
question.

My own feeling is that it's not so much the seeking in itself which is the 
problem as that which is sought. In other words it ties in with the theme of 
Choices.

As far as Quidditch is concerned, I think of Krum. What do we make of his 
action at the QWC? He wasn't seeking personal power or glory as such, but to 
uphold the honour of his team in the face of inevitable defeat. He was 
actually risking great opprobrium from those who didn't realise his 
motivation, but thought he was simply throwing the game.

I agree that seeking in that single-minded way as you describe can 
destructive and that the series does tend to reinforce that view. Isn't this 
the message of the Mirror of Erised? That one can waste away in single-minded 
pursuit of the unobtainable? That what we seek often is not what we need? But 
again, it comes back to choices.

But when I look outside HP, to the traditions on which JKR may be drawing, 
there's a lot of noble seeking. People often draw Arthurian parallels; can we 
link in concepts such as the pursuit of the Holy Grail? The Bible, with which 
JKR is obviously familiar contains positive examples of seeking: the widow 
for her lost coin, the shepherd for the lost sheep, etc.

Is Harry's Quidditch position, his pursuit of that which is elusive but 
valuable (and which he ultimately pursues not for personal glory, but for his 
team and his House) perhaps allegorical?

I think we have to examine the question of seeking in the light of the theme 
of Choices. "What" is being sought and what means are chosen to pursue it?

Again, returning to the Mirror of Erised, both Harry and Quirrell sought the 
stone in the mirror, but only the one with pure motives was able to find it. 

Both Voldemort and Dumbledore have sought eternal life, but they have done it 
in different ways, Voldemort for personal gain, Dumbledore - well, who knows? 
But Dumbledore was able to renounce that search in the interests of the 
greater good . He destroyed the Philosopher's Stone, whilst Voldemort 
continues to seek immortality.

In the Second Task, the competitors had to seek their lost friends. All 
sought, but the winner was the one sought with the interests of the "lost" 
uppermost in his considerations, rather than thought of personal gain.

So seeking in itself is not bad, but it is risky, as Harry knows and it is 
open to corruption.
We do risk seeking the wrong thing and if we *choose* to seek the wrong 
thing, we and possibly others, will pay the penalty

What a serious way to start the day!
I'm sure there's losts more in this theme to explore, but I have to get back 
to RL.

~Eloise

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You think that just because it's already happened, the past is finished and 
unhangeable? Oh no, the past is cloaked in multi-colored taffeta and every 
time we look at it we see a different hue.

(Milan Kundera, Life is Elsewhere)


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