OoP: Has Anyone Seen Redeemable Draco???

[komagata_mai]

No: HPFGUIDX 67001

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Marianne" <Musiqchiq87 at h...> 
wrote:
> Draco give Harry a run for his money in the matter of 
psychological 
> deprivation? I muat say, to me, it seems doubtful.  What about all 
> those baskets and treats his owl brought him from home?  And his 
> father paying for the whole Slytherin team's brooms? I dunno, his 
> father may not be extreamly affectionate, but malfoy seems pretty 
> spoiled, and I get the impression his mother babies him - but I 
could 
> be wrong, does anyone remember any canon evidence that says 
> otherwise? this is an interesting angle to look at draco from.
>

Being spoiled is not evidence of being raised properly. It can many 
times be an easy way out, or even an neglectful way to take care of 
a child, giving it everything it wants instead of bothering to 
discipline it. 

Regardless, I do not think Draco is entirely a spoiled brat (note 
entirely). Candy is hardly a problem for the Malfoys to send their 
child, and look at how good it makes them look, makes it look like 
they have money. Same with buying brooms for the whole team. Malfoys 
are extremely concerned with their status in society, and making 
sure Draco always has showy things emphasizes this. 

For example, when draco wants the Hand of Glory, he doesn't get it, 
because the impression it sends out is that of draco being a thief. 
I find  that the Knockturn alley scene gives the impression that his 
parents indulge him to look good (And to note, they get him one 
birthday present, one which he is likely to need if he makes the 
house team, as opposed to say, Dudley, who gets a ridiculous number 
of (expensive) birthday presents and barely has to open his mouth to 
get more, and his parents aren't even rich). So not totally, 
although partially spoiled. 

And again, spoiling children is hardly good parenting. It is not a 
way to show love, unless you equate material goods with love or 
education. It doesn't indicate that his parents loved him or did not 
love him, abused him or not. I know a few rich kids I went to school 
with whose parents were perfectly charming in public, and bought 
their children all the finest things, and would call in to the 
principal threatening all sorts of things (monetary or otherwise) if 
their child was yelled by a teacher or given a bad grade (Because it 
reflects badly on them). On the other hand, some of these children 
were the ones whose parents would use to make them claim abuse in 
divorce settlements, or kick them out of the house at whim. These 
children tended to be hateful, depressed, and snotty and acted 
superior. So spoiling can be indicative of neglect and abusive 
parenting, and it can also be simply a mistake of over-indulging 
parents, or be used as an indication of social status.

I'm rambling now, so I'll stop.

mai