OOP: Something that disturbed me
jmgarciaiii
jmgarciaiii at yahoo.com
Sat Jun 28 13:52:24 UTC 2003
No: HPFGUIDX 65358
--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Wendy St John"
<hebrideanblack at e...> wrote:
> I am going to respectfully disagree with your statement that Harry
casting
> the curse is "completely justified." The fact that Harry used it
disturbs
> me. I'm not sure if I'm a lot disturbed, or just a little, yet
(still
> pondering that).
Maybe HP's use of the curse is not "completely justified" but, IMO<
it's justified enough.
> Cruciatus is one of only *three* curses which are classified as
> "unforgiveable" (at least that's my understanding of the canon
from GoF).
> Although we don't really know the reason these three (and only
these three)
> are unforgiveable, Harry knows that they are, and he is also aware
that the
> legal penalty for using any of these curses is a sentence in
Azkaban. And
> he knows that these curses qualify as "Dark Magic" (again, by my
> understanding of the canon. Not sure it's even been specifically
stated).
This assumes that HP actually gave the matter rational, measured
thought.
[snip]
> Yes, he
> was in a "heat of the moment" situation, but I found it disturbing
for
> Harry to "default" to casting an unforgiveable curse. Not only has
he
> called upon Dark Magic, he has also broken Wizarding law and
risked a
> prison sentence.
I disagree that it was a "default" but rather it was a reflexive
action. Also, IIRC, the unforgivable curses are permitted to be cast
against DEs and, moreover, it is my view that in order for the curse
to be an unforgiveable one, it has to have unforgivable result. If
HP had cast the AK curse on BL and she had developed a dull ache as
a result...would that be an unforgivable curse? There is, IMO, a
difference between wanting to cause pain, and wanting to TORTURE
someone.
> But I
> am still not happy with the choice that he made. It's too soon to
tell
> whether or not this experience will be the beginning of him
actually
> turning to the Dark Arts because he feels there is no other way to
defend
> himself and his loved ones, or if the experience will force him to
> recognise that the Dark Arts are completely not the way to go. I
do hope he
> learns to respond to his feelings (such as the desire to cause
pain) by
> facing and overcoming them, instead of acting upon them the way he
did in
> this battle - for his *own* sake. I'm not saying Bella
didn't "deserve" it.
I'm not happy about the choice, either, but I am not particularly
disturbed by it. Also, if my reading of the prophecy is true, and
it's kill-or-be-killed...then how is he supposed to effect that?
-Joe in SoFla
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