Peter's Flaw

[kiricat2001]

No: HPFGUIDX 37067

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "tex23236" <jbryson at r...> wrote:

> It looks to me like Peter had and still has only one flaw: fear of 
> death.  It's the reason he gives Lupin and Black for betraying the 
> Potters.  It is, IMHO, the reason he goes to find LV. It is the 
reason 
> he does everything.  He cuts off his hand to revive LV. He looks to 
> LV to give him immortality,  which is probably true of all the DE's.

Hmmm, maybe.  But I think that is part of a greater character flaw 
and I don't know if I can describe what I'm thinking.  I believe that 
Peter has no center.  Maybe he's amoral, maybe he's completely self-
centered and ego-driven.  I'm not sure how to describe it.  I think 
that his own self-interest/self-preservation is the most important 
motiviation he has. 

He's not so good in school?  Then he aligns himself with three very 
bright boys who can and will help him out.  And, maybe he's not such 
a weak wizard; maybe he's lazy, but can get away with it because he's 
got these friends who will carry him along with them.

Times are tough and scary?  He aligns himself with the side he thinks 
is most likely to win the war.  

Faced with angry ex-friends in the Shrieking Shack?  He falls back on 
whining and grovelling.  Note, he never apologizes for any of his 
actions - it's all I-was-scared-V-was-so-powerful-what-else-could-I-
do, conveniently overlooking the fact that he had been spying for a 
year or so before betraying the Potters.  

Fear of death certainly plays into this, but I think that's only one 
facet of Peter's character.

Marianne