DD: an appreciation (Was Re: Snape, A Murderer?)

[nkafkafi]

No: HPFGUIDX 95566

Neri wrote:
2. Puppet-master!DD means that Harry was a puppet all his life.
Somehow I don't think this is the moral JKR meant.

Kneasy answered:
Well, it's possible to draw morals from just about anything, even from
a well-meaning old man that had good intentions but perhaps went too
far.
IIRC JKR tried to distinguish between the idea that she was writing a
moral story (which she said she wasn't) and a story that has some
moral lessons in it (which she said she was). There's quite a gap
between the two; the latter allows for much more character flexibility
and errors of judgement.

Neri again:
I gather you don't like the word "moral", although I didn't mean it 
here in the ethical sense, but as in "what is the message of the 
story". In your scenario, Harry and his parents were complete puppets 
dancing on DD's strings. You allow that Harry may rebel in the last 
two books, but still in five out seven books he is manipulated 
(according to your scenario) all the way. DD who had let James and 
Lily die is not "a well-meaning old man that had good intentions but 
perhaps went too far". He is, as you said before, ruthless and a 
puppet master. If this turns out to be true, the message that must be 
drawn by the reader is that teenagers like Harry, or even young 
persons like James and Lily, should not be trusted with critical 
choices. The ruthless well-meaning old men should make these choices 
for them, and if necessary manipulate them to ensure they make the 
right choices. Personally I would be very disappointed if this will 
indeed turn out to be true, but don't believe it will.

Kathy's questions to Kneasy:
So, Are you saying that it isn't so much about Harry but about DD's
plan that involves Harry?

Kneasy:
In brief – Yes

Neri again:
I think Kathy nailed it (and nailed Kneasy...) here. This story *is* 
about Harry, not about DD's plan that happens to involve Harry. It's 
says "Harry Potter" on the cover, and I (being the gullible that I 
am) believe it. Harry is the hero of this story, not the puppet of 
this story. His choices are real choices, or what is the point of all 
this? The only case in which puppet-master!DD would have a point is 
if the story was about Harry rebelling against DD. But I don't think 
this is what the story is about. I think the story is about Harry 
fighting Voldy.

Kneasy:
Harry wouldn't be in the position he's in if it hadn't been for the
Prophecy and DD's plan that utilised it. Don't get me wrong, he's fond
of Harry, possibly even "feels his pain" to revert to current
emotional babble, but he believes in the Prophecy, which means that
Harry is a lot more than just some kid with an unfortunate past - he's
the way to beat Voldy. And the survival of the WW has a higher
priority than Harry's feelings.

Neri again:
This is the point you repeat all the time, and I agree that it is a 
very good point. Why would DD let foolish boys and girls like James, 
Lily and Harry decide the fate of the whole WW? He should take things 
into his old wise hands, even if it means manipulating and 
sacrificing the stroppy little buggers. I tried to answer this 
troubling question myself, although my solution (for example #95109) 
is opposed to yours. Your solution requires an enormous conspiracy 
theory, which IMO tends to raise more questions and problems than it 
solves. In this sense it is like the DD=Ron time-travel theory. And 
like the DD=Ron theory, it is also extremely interesting, so by all 
means lets hear more...

Neri