About the unforgivable curses

[corinthum]

No: HPFGUIDX 67732


> Nick Angiolillo wrote: 
>  
> > This got me thinking, though, whether it's not just anger that is 
> > needed to cast one of the unforgivable curses (aside from 
> tremendous  magic ability).  I think that to successfully use the 
> curse, you 
> > must have true evil in your heart.

And Melissa replied:

> I'm wondering about that also, and I've heard a lot about having 
anger and/or evil in your heart to be able to use it. My guess 
though, is that perhaps all that's really needed is intense 
hate...with some practice of course. 

Me now:

I actually think anger and hate would would hinder the use of these 
curses (and any other curse).  Both tend to be based in pure emotion 
and lead to irrational thoughts and actions.  The Unforgivable 
curses, however, are very advanced magic and therefore require clear 
concentration.

Although obviously full of hatred, I've never gotten the impression 
that the Voldemort and his Death Eaters killed in random bouts of 
fury and hate.  Their actions, from what we've seen, are carefully 
planned.  Moody demonstrated all three curses on spiders, who I doubt 
he hated.  Nor was he angry during the demonstration.  Also, we heard 
that Crouch authorized the Aurors to use Unforgivables as necessary 
during Voldemort's first reign.  The Aurors, in general, weren't 
evil, nor would they act while filled with anger and hate (at least, 
I should hope their years of training would prevent this).

I think Harry failed to sustain the Cruciatus curse primarily 
*because* he was angry.  He wasn't concentrating on the curse but 
rather on the outcome of the curse; he wanted to cause pain but 
didn't concentrate on the process.  The Death Eaters, on the other 
hand, use the curses quite successfully because they consider their 
victims (Muggles, Muggle-born wizards, and their supporters) to be 
their inferiors and therefore not worthy of consideration.  Not real 
hate and anger, but rather indifference to their victims' feelings.

-Corinth