The Dullest Redemption Subplot Ever (WAS: Evil Is...)

[errolowl <nithya_rachel@hotmail.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 51625



Elkins:
>>I really like redemption subplots, but I think that in order for a 
reformed Draco Malfoy to qualify as one, he really needs to *do* 
something first -- and something a heckuva lot more dire than 
mouthing vile rhetoric, saying rotten things, and bullying weaker
students by hexing them in the corridors. I mean, really. He's not a 
nice kid, but his crimes to date are hardly in the same category as 
rape, torture or murder, are they? He's not a Snape, or a Peter 
Pettigrew. *Those* are guys who actually have things to *atone* 
for. Serious things. Things like murder. Things like torture. Things 
like betrayal. Draco, in comparison, just doesn't have all that much 
of a rap sheet. His attitude is perfectly dreadful, yes, but mainly, 
he's all talk. The things that he needs to "redeem himself for" are 
still quite easily affordable, and would require not even a long-term 
payment plan. 

I don't know if I'd even consider a plotline in which a teenager 
mends his wicked ways by distancing himself from his history of 
schoolyard bullying, racism, vile political rhetoric, and nasty 
verbal taunts a "redemption subplot" at all. To my mind, that would 
be more a coming of age drama serving to parallel and to double 
Harry's own. For it to be a *redemption plotline,* I'd expect to see 
the character first do something seriously dire.<<



You know Elkins, I totally agree with you on that one! Draco
hasn't really done anything yet. But I think its that *yet* that
is under attack. He does seem setup on a fast track to 
Deatheaterhood. I`d say redeem him from JKR!! ;-)

Of course, the fact that he hasn't *done* many awful things
doesn't make him much less malicious, or,..er, evil! Dicentra
made a point about this:
>> To this I would add that evil has to do what you want, not just 
what you do. If you continually *want* to do evil deeds over good 
ones, you're evil, even if you don't actually do them.<<

But then, Draco's just on the first rung with this. He's only
"Evil" compared to other 14 year olds. And yes, the only
thing he has to apologize about up to this point is his attitude.


unless (as Ikeep harping on) he has made a conscious moral decision 
on which his attitude is based – then he would have to apologize
for 
his underlying intentions as well. :-)

The theme here would be "save him from his future". For a 
purportedly `Evil' character, he is more smoke than fire
right now. `Redeemable Draco' is pretty similar to
`redeemable' Dudley at this point! But he's cast in the
negative quadrant of the storyline, so I guess he's fair game for 
a `redemption theory' however lame. ;-)

Errol
Who thinks very few `redeemable' theories are not boring.