Percy vs Sirus Question

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 85605

> Nikki wrote:
> > My question is this is there any connection in Percy, who has 
> obviously 
> > gone bad in OoP  being from a good family, and Sirus who is good 
> being 
> > from a bad family? Is this JKR's way of irony or is there something 
> > underlying in these two comparisons, maybe that Love is not the 
> root 
> > of all but friends and colleagues? 
> 
Mandy wrote: 
> I think more than just irony although that is part of it.  It's also 
> part of JKR way of reminding us adults and teaching children that not 
> everything we see is black or white.  Good or Bad. Gryiffindor or 
> Slytherin.  Harry or Draco. Etc.  There is so much gray that life can 
> be very difficult and challenging and all our decisions have 
> consequences that affect others. What's important is to believe in 
> yourself, as Percy does, but even than you must always respect those 
> who love and care for you.  
<snip>


I agree that Percy is a "gray" character, but I can't agree that his
"belief in himself" is in anyway good. Percy's vanity and pride, along
with his blind obedience to authority and his faith in the MoM, has
brought grief to his family and nearly resulted in disaster for
himself. He can even be held partially to blame for Crouch Sr.'s death
because he didn't figure out that something was very wrong with his
beloved boss. Though I do like him and hope I'm wrong that he's going
to die in Book 6 or 7, Percy is not at this point an admirable
character. He's made a lot of stupid blunders, he's hurt the family
who loves him, and he's idolized the wtong people. One of two things
has to happen now. Either he'll come around and redeem himself, or
he'll stay on his course of blind hero worship and vanity and come to
ruin. Maybe both will happen and he'll die redeemed. I hope so, for
Molly's sake, but I don't think it's going to happen.

Carol