Evil Is As Evil Is, But What Is Evil?

[jenny_ravenclaw <meboriqua@aol.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 51614

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "dicentra63 <dicentra at x>" 
<dicentra at x> wrote in response to Abigail (I believe):

> You're right, there are no Evil people (as you define Evil) in the
> Potterverse. That's why I can't accept your definition of Evil when
> analyzing Draco et al.: it's a non-concept.  
> 
> The Evil characters you're describing do come up in Lord of the 
Rings, however.  Some creatures are Designated Evil Creatures, and 
were created as Evil from the beginning.  They don't have free 
will--they just run around Threatening To Devour The Heroes Or Worse.  
We might be able to count Dementors, Werewolves (in their non-human 
form), Trolls, Acromantulae, and other Dangerous Creatures as Evil by 
your definition, but none of them are people.
> 
> And none of them exist in the real world.  Someone like Draco can.>

Sorry to snip so much, here, but I want to respond to this in general.  
I don't know if I believe that people can be Evil.  I do definitely 
believe, though, that people can do Evil things.  However, there are 
always reasons why people do the things they do.  This is something 
that has been discussed many times, and I believe CantorAmy just 
brought it up again: Draco has been raised to believe that he is 
superior to others and that "getting rid" of certain peoples isn't a 
bad thing.  In fact, the Malfoys believe that they'd be much better 
off without Muggles or mudbloods around.  If Draco believes that 
Hermione is a lowly wormy mudblood, how can he even begin to consider 
her feelings?  He behaves as he was taught.

I also agree with Dicentra that there is no such thing as an Evil 
person who cannot control their Evilness.  Without free will, you 
aren't really human.  If you are, you're under a spell in the 
Potterverse or if here, brainwashed or hypnotised.  What I mean by 
that is that Evil is forced on us.

Unfortunately, Evil is subjective, because what I think is Evil, 
others may feel is justified, like the men who destroyed the Twin 
Towers.  I think what they did was Evil, but they claimed they were 
fighting in a war and would go to Paradise because of their actions.  
The Malfoys believe in what they do, too, but Harry doesn't, Hermione 
doesn't, Dumbledore doesn't, and I don't.  I still can't stand Lucius 
Malfoy, though, and won't shed a tear when he's gone.

Now that I've thoroughly confused myself, I shall go watch Buffy.

--jenny from ravenclaw, getting ready to celebrate my two year 
anniversary here at HPFGU! ****************