Perhaps Not-So-Evil Fudge? (WAS: Evil Evil Fudge)

[erisedstraeh2002 <erisedstraeh2002@yahoo.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 48275

Linda McCabe (Athena) wrote:
 
> I think Fudge is probably a spy for Voldy. <snip> Oh he is evil.  
> Ever So Evil.  

Now me: 

I'm not convinced that Fudge is ever-so-evil.  I think the evidence 
in canon regarding Fudge is very contradictory, and (IMO), 
intentionally so.  Everything about him, down to the bizarre way he 
dresses, is intended to leave us guessing about his true motives.

Susan asked (in a very good first initiating post, btw!) about the 
apparent inconsistency between Fudge saying in the Three Broomsticks 
(in PoA) that Voldemort would regain power quickly if his most 
devoted servant was restored to him and Fudge not accepting 
Voldemort's regeneration (in GoF).  While the "Fudge is Evil" premise 
explains this perfectly, it's also possible that Fudge, in the safety 
of the Three Broomsticks, can feel comfortable talking about 
Voldemort's return where, when faced with the reality of its 
occurrence, he is actually frightened beyond comprehension.

He may very well doubt Sirius' guilt.  Power-hungry that he is (I 
definitely agree on this point), he was able to make a name for 
himself by catching someone who could take the fall for the Potters' 
deaths as well as for the street full of Muggle killings. So it was 
fairly irrelevant to him as to whether or not Sirius was actually 
guilty.  With regard to the Three Broomsticks interchange, he needs 
to continue to proclaim Sirius' guilt, because it got him where he 
is, but he's not 100% sure about it (because Sirius never got a 
trial), so while he keeps up the front about Voldemort returning to 
power if Sirius rejoins him, he may not actually believe it.  

Linda (Athena) again:

> And yes, that's what the meaning of his last name is all about.  
> Fudging on the Truth.

Me again:

To "fudge" can also mean (from Webster's Dictionary) "to fail to live 
up to something;" "to fail to perform as expected;" "to devise as a 
substitute or without adequate basis;" "to avoid commitment;" "to 
fail to come to grips with."  I think Fudge has displayed all of 
these characteristics:  He's "failing to live up to" his 
responsibilities, "failing to perform as expected" in his position as 
Minister, and "avoiding commitment" by "failing to come to grips 
with" Voldemort's regeneration.  He also put Sirius in 
Azkaban "without adequate basis."

~Phyllis