The Dullest Redemption Subplot Ever (Tiny TBAY, hardly enough to notice)

[Cindy C. <cindysphynx@comcast.net>]

No: HPFGUIDX 51627

Elkins wrote:

> You know, the thing that always amuses me about these 
>conversations which focus so very strongly on the word "redeemable" 
>when it comes to Draco Malfoy is that they almost invariably lead 
>me to wonder precisely what a "redemption" subplot for Draco would 
>have to look like, at this point in the story.

<snip deadly dull redemption subplot>

You know what you just did, don't you, Elkins?

You performed your very first *Bang Assessment!*  ;-)

Yeah, Draco's potential redemption does suffer from a mighty high 
Yawn Quotient at this point.  That is one reason I don't fully 
understand why those in favor of Redeemable!Draco aren't staunch 
defenders of Evil!Draco.  The more Evil Draco is, the more 
compelling and interesting his redemption would be, as you say.  If 
he's nothing more than an irritant, then his redemption is a snooze.

But actually, this whole redemption idea is rather complex if you 
think about it a while.  Elkins listed the ways Draco could redeem 
from his current bad acts thusly:

 
> Draco Malfoy repents his wicked ways.  He sees the light and seeks 
>to atone for his terrible, terrible sins.  And so...uh...

<snip Draco 12-step program>

 
> You know, when it comes right down to it, Talk Is Cheap.  

<snip>
 
>He's not 
> a nice kid, but his crimes to date are hardly in the same category 
>as rape, torture or murder, are they?  

No, they're not.  

But you raise an interesting question.  If redemption requires 
atonement, then redemption *can't* involve crimes such as rape, 
torture or murder, can it?  By their very nature, it is impossible 
to mitigate or undo such offenses, right?  So in fact, if someone is 
evil to that extent -- if they reach the rape, torture or murder 
level -- their atonement doesn't really count for much, does it?  
Like you said, Talk Is Cheap, especially when things Cannot Be Fixed.

But when one's evil is that of wilfully causing emotional pain to 
others using words as a weapon, it *is* possible to atone and be 
redeemed.  One can simply "take it all back," go forth and sin no 
more, and work for Good.  You know, like George Wallace did.

So does true redemption require atonement?  I'm not sure.  But can 
redemption/atonement happen if the offenses are something 
remediable -- like the bullying or racist slurs we have with Draco?  
Yes, I think so.

But just so we're all clear, I'm not a big fan of redemptions so I 
may not be the best person to opine.  I far prefer come-uppance for 
the Evil Ones, to be perfectly honest.  Come-uppance scenes *always* 
Bang.  ;-)

Cindy -- thrilled to finally welcome Elkins aboard the Big Bang 
after all this time, and still not conceding that Crouch Sr. 
redeemed himself right before his son killed him