Draco

[jenny_ravenclaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 47436

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Christopher Nuttall" wrote:
 
>I do not believe that he is as important a person as most of us and 
he himself seems to think.
> 
> I see Draco as simply a bully and malicious troublecauser.  We have 
no hint that he has a deeper character than simple racism (mudbloods) 
and hiding behind his two companions.  He is so desperate for success 
and fame that he uses his father's money to buy his way on to the 
quiddich team and is spiteful enough to try and get Hagrid fired for 
his own mistake.
> 
> His big mouth gets him into trouble more than once...
 
>I can't see LV wanting him too much, what does he bring to the DEs?  
He may be cunning, but he can't keep his mouth shut and he has a knack 
of making enemies out of people.  
> 
> Personally, I think Draco is an inflated person.>

Wow.  Within your argument, you seem to actually be proving some of 
the things you are saying Draco is not.  Again I must say that the 
interpretations of Draco Malfoy are varied, and I do tend to believe 
that he won't be a DE or the next Big V, but I think there is a lot 
more to his character than just he "is an inflated person" (what 
exactly does that mean, anyway?).

Why racism exists and how people deal with it is one of the definite 
themes throughout HP.  JKR has approached racism from several 
different angles, Draco being one of them.  I'd say his not so well 
formed racist beliefs are pretty important things to think about.  For 
example, how does he really feel about Hermione?  Is he simply lashing 
out at her because he is jealous, as was clearly established at the 
beginning of CoS?  Is he possibly attracted to her and trying to deny 
it?  Or is he not even thinking about what it means to call someone a 
Mudblood, but has heard the term so many times at home and thinks it 
is okay to say?

There is definitely "a deeper character" to Draco, IMO.  I'd like to 
see him stray from his father.  How might he react to seeing Lucius 
kissing the hems of Voldemort?  What if he decides to disagree with 
his father?  Or what if Draco is rejected by the DEs?  The 
possiblities plot-wise are amazing.  The relationship with his father 
goes way beyond anything typical, as we've seen so many people 
discussing... for several years now!  Whether or not Draco is abused 
is only one of the things I'd like to see JKR explore in relation to 
Draco.

In fact, I think the fact that he is a bully shows us that something 
wrong has gone on.  Most kids are not bullies and do not look to 
victimize others.  Why is that something Draco seems to get pleasure 
from?  I even find it interesting that he has chosen two large and 
practically mute Slytherins as his friends.  Doesn't he want friends 
he can talk to?  Laugh with?  What does he feel about himself that he 
only chooses the company of morons?

I'm not asking these questions because I am looking for answers here, 
as many of these things have been discussed many times on this list, 
but I think Draco is anything but two-dimensional.  Just because he is 
a snotty, snobby, elitist, spoiled and materialistic kid, he is 
certainly not boring or unimportant.  There will be plenty more of 
Draco Malfoy ahead - I'm sure of it.

--jenny from ravenclaw ********