Dark Magic and Evil (WAS: Grindelwald and evil)

[Tom Wall <thomasmwall@yahoo.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 52468

Crunchy Chocolate Frog wrote:

"There's a difference between 
`dark wizards' and `evil wizards'."

I comment:
I've been having some trouble 
lately understanding exactly 
why so many of us (myself included) 
equate "Dark" Wizards with "Evil" 
wizards.

For instance, in CoS, when Mr. Malfoy
is in Borgin and Burkes selling some
stuff, he says:

"and as you can see, certain of these
poisons might make it appear..."
(CoS, US paperback, Ch 4, p51)

But we also know that they study both posions *and* antidotes at 
Hogwarts, in potions class.

And the Hand of Glory? Borgin says:
"Insert a candle and it gives light only to the holder! Best friend 
of theives and plunderers."
(CoS, US paperback, Ch 4, p52)

But, I'm not clear on exactly why this would be considered a 'dark' 
item. For instance, it would seem to me to be extremely useful 
for 'good' wizards who want to be secretive, for instance. I can find 
numerous times in canon when it would have been helpful for HHR to 
have a Hand of Glory. Does that make them 'evil?' No. So, again, just 
because an item is 'dark,' it's not necessarily 'evil.'

Furthermore, when Hagrid finds Harry in Knockturn Alley, he says that 
*he'* there because:
"I was lookin' fer a Flesh-Eatin' Slug Repellant!"
(CoS, US paperback, Ch 4, p55)

Now, why Flesh-Eating Slug Repellant would be 'dark' is beyond me 
entirely, one-hundred percent, and I certainly can't buy that 
it's 'evil.'

Voldemort says, in the graveyard scene:
'- it is an old piece of Dark Magic, the potion that revived me 
tonight -"
(GoF, US hardcover, Ch 33, p656)

Whether or not this bit of Dark Magic actually cheapens the life one 
lives, ala drinking unicorn's blood, we aren't told, althouh from 
what I infer it wouldn't seem to do so., otherwise I can't see 
Voldemort using it. But again, I can't see why this piece of magic is 
necessarily 'evil,' I mean, good wizards have both servants and 
enemies as well, and I could see many useful occasions for bringing a 
wizard back to life.

Now, on immortality, we're given the idea somehow that pursuing it 
is 'evil' or something, but DUMBLEDORE helped to research immortality 
with Nicolas Flamel. We're never given any inkling on whether or not 
Flamel is 'evil,' but I'd suggest that he's not. Dumbledore says:

"You know, the Stone was really not such a wonderful thing. As much 
money and life as you could want! The two things that most human 
beings would choose above all - the trouble is, humans do have a 
knack of choosing precisely those things that are worst for them."
(PS/SS, US softcover, Ch 17, p297)

But Dumbledore doesn't say that the stone is a 'dark' or even 
an 'evil' object. So, why is it bad for Voldemort to desire 
immortality, when Dumbledore worked on Alchemy with Nicolas Flamel, 
and we also know that Alchemy is focused on creating the 
Sorceror's/Philosopher's Stone. So, is Dumbledore 'evil' for 
researching immortality? 

I hardly think that anyone'd take that line when it comes to old 
Albus.

I just don't get it. We even know that Dumbledore has knowledge of 
the Dark Arts, and that there are other takes on the Dark Arts around 
the world, ala Durmstrang:

"You flatter me <snip> Voldemort had powers I will never have."
"Only because you're too - well - noble to use them."
(PS/SS, US softcover, Ch 1, p11)

AND:

"Just because a wizard doesn't use Dark Magic doesn't mean he can't, 
Miss Pennyfeather,"
(CoS, US softcover, Ch 9, p152)

AND:

"Father says Durmstrang takes a far more sensible line that Hogwarts 
about the Dark Arts. Durmstrang students actually learn them..."
(GoF, US hardcover, Ch 11, p65)

I comment:
So, we know that Dumbledore is familiar with the Dark Arts, right? 
That means that he had to learn them somewhere, and in order to learn 
them, we also know that he had to deliberately study them as well. He 
just doesn't use those powers. Why? Well, Minerva would have nobility 
have something to do with it, but again, I don't see how 'nobility' 
is necessarily related.

And I refuse to believe that just because a student goes to 
Durmstrang, they're automatically 'evil,' whether they learn and 
practice the Dark Arts or not.

And what about the Unforgivables? Sirius tells us:
"Crouch fought violence with violence, and authorized the use of the 
Unforgivable Curses against suspects. I would say he became as 
ruthless and cruel as many on the dark side. He had his supporters, 
mind you - plenty of people thought he was going about things the 
right way,"
(GoF, US hardcover, Ch 27, p527)

I don't think we're ever actually *told* whether or not the 
Unforgivables are Dark Magic, but I personally can't see how they 
could be used for 'good' purposes, myself. Sirius indicates that he 
believed Crouch was 'ruthless,' and so forth, but he also says that a 
lot of others believed that what Crouch was doing was the right 
thing. But, does that make Crouch 'evil?' I wouldn't say that it does.

And what about hexes and other curses? We know that they're used too, 
even by people that we all consider 'good,' right? Mundungus Fletcher 
tried to hex Arthur Weasley at one point, the trio and the twins used 
curses against Malfoy & his goons at the end of GoF, and when Harry's 
first in Diagon Alley, he looks at this book:

"Curses and Countercurses: Bewitch Your Friends and Befuddle Your 
Enemies with the Latest Revenges: Hair Loss, Jelly-Legs, Tongue-Tying 
and Much, Much More."
(PS/SS, US softcover, Ch 5, p80)

And we have numerous other occasions in canon of 'good' wizards and 
witches using curses on each other. So, a 'curse' isn't necessarily 
Dark Magic, nor is it necessarily 'evil.' 

But on the other hand, I don't see how curses could really be used 
for anything particularly 'good.'

So, I guess what I'm saying here is that it's not a foregone 
conclusion that the Dark Arts are necessarily 'Evil,' although they 
can be used for that purpose. 

It would seem to me that the 'Light' Arts, or whatever we call them, 
can also be used for foul, or even 'evil' purposes.

And just because a witch or wizard learns, knows, or even uses the 
Dark Arts, that doesn't automatically make that person 'evil.'

-Tom