[HPforGrownups] Re: Bang! You're Dead.

[Kathryn Cawte]

No: HPFGUIDX 86030

Robert
> And if Voldemort should escape, Harry gets to feel guilty about
> all the resulting deaths, even though those deaths wouldn't really
> be his fault.
>
K

That's illogical. He'll feel guilty for Voldemort killing people so he'll
murder him instead - you don't think he might feel a tad bit *more* guilty?


Robert
> You'd seem to agree that killing Voldemort is necessary so,
> if Harry is indeed the only the only one who can kill him, his
> killing Voldemort becomes necessary.
>

K

No I don't. I agree that from a plot pov it is necessary. However, to say
that I have to step back from the story and look at it from the point of
view of an author in which case they're just fictional characters anyway, so
who cares? If we analyse it purely as fiction then pretty much all our
discussions would boil down to 'what is his motivation?' 'whatever the heck
JKR wants it to be' etc

Within the story I do not agree that 'executing' Voldemort is necessary. If
Harry kills him in self defence or defence of another or while apprehending
him or accidentally that is necessary. However in the hypothetical and
highly unlikely case that Voldemort were somehow
asleep/unconscious/otherwise not actively posing a threat at that moment
then that is murder and wrong.

Robert


> The key differences are that Harry would know he had
> done wrong, that he would always regret the necessity, and
> that he would not let it set a precedent for his future actions.
>
K

I'm not keen on the justification that 'well I know it's wrong but never
mind I'll feel *really* guilty about it later'

Frankly, I don't think there's any chance that the situation I suggested
will come up. I'm sure if/when Harry kills Voldemort it will be in a
situation where it is somehow 'justifiable'. However, I think regardless of
how justifiable it is Harry is going to tear himself up over it - because he
does tend to blame himself for every evil in the world.

K