The Evil that is Rita (was: An acronym, why can't JKR count, etc.)

[jenny_ravenclaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 57792

 Huggs Becky wrote:
> 
> RITA isn't bad or evil.  She's just a shallow, narcissic mudraker 
> who'll do anything for a story to make herself look good.  If she 
> were a muggle I'm sure she would be working for the National 
> Enquirer or some other such trash papper.  She's just a pest.>

Barb responded: 
> Oh, I don't know about that.  She obviously has a vicious streak.>
and   
>I don't think we're going to see the last of Rita, nor that she will 
prove to be harmless.  She hasn't been so far; if she's revenge-minded 
now, she'll only be getting worse.>

I'm leaning towards agreeing with Barb here.  I think people are 
categorizing characters in the Potterverse as evil only if they are 
clearly on Voldemort's side, but there are other characters who sure 
aren't good but may not be DEs, either.  Rita is one of those.  She's 
despicable.  I don't want to simply repeat what Barb said, but Rita is 
bad because she is a selfish, dishonest, insensitive witch.  The fact 
that she thinks nothing of smearing 14 year old kids in an obviously 
widely read publication proves that.

Rita may not cry "Purebloods only!" but she does some damaging things.  
She's a DE in different clothes and with a different approach.

--jenny from ravenclaw ***********************************