HPforGrownups] Harry and the Cruciatus

[suehpfan]

No: HPFGUIDX 96861

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "justcarol67" 
<justcarol67 at y...> wrote:
> Silverthorne wrote:
> <snip>
> > I think the problem here is that we have a moral as well as a 
legal
> issue going on. <snip>
> 
> > *Morally* speaking, Harry's choice of curses is worrying--he had
> seen Crucio used before, he knows what it can do, has in fact seen 
it
> used not moments before, and yet that is still his weapon of choice.
> > 
> > Still, even on moral grounds, Harry's reaction is understandable 
by
> completely human standards--he is young, not used to controlling his
> emotions yet, and completely distraught at the time. Like any teen, 
he
> reaches for the first thing handy--the last spell he most likely can
> clearly recall being used, and that might actaully do some *real*
> damage--so out comes the Cruciatus.
> > 
> > The worry comes in whether or not he'll consider that an option in
> the future. *If* he thinks it through, *if* he chooses somethng 
other
> than the 'easy way out', then he'll be fine...
> > 
> > If he chooses Tom's route however, which seems to be 'use whatever
> tool you can to acheive your goals', then he's in trouble.
> <snip>
> 
> Carol:
> In essence, I agree with you, but I think we also need to consider 
the
> fact that the curse failed and why. Thanks to Bellatrix, Harry knows
> *now* exactly what it takes to make an Unforgiveable Curse work: he
> understands that he would have to practice attaining that state of
> mind, in essence, becoming like Bellatrix or Barty Jr., in order to
> cast a UC successfully.
> 
> Frankly, I don't think that's going to happen. I think (hope) that 
the
> experience becomes a valuable moral lesson--this is what he *must 
not
> do.* This is why he must listen to Snape's advice and control his
> anger. I really hope he puts the lesson to good use and that we'll 
see
> a different, calmer, more mature, more controlled, more rational 
> Harry in Book 6--one who understands that choosing what's right over
> what's easy means, most of all, not succumbing to the temptation to
> use an Unforgiveable Curse.
> 
> He must remember the similarities between himself and Tom, and he 
must
> not choose Tom's route.
> 
> Carol

In the March 4th World Book Day chat JKR spoke to exactly this.  She 
was asked:
Regarding Harry's subconscious feelings, how has it changed from book 
1 to book 5?
JK Rowling replies -> Well he's obviously been through a lot since 
book one and book five was the book when he cracked up a little. In 
book six, the wizarding world is really at war again and he has to 
master his own feelings to make himself useful. (end quote)

It is very clear that though he did some useful things in the 5th 
book, most notably the DA, he spent a whole lot of time out of sorts 
and frustrated.  In the situation he was in though, there were very 
few options (IMO, anyway), people under strenuous control by others 
often get cranky.

I have pretty much stayed out of this debate but wanted to add this 
quote.  I agree with you Carol, 'nuf whining...time to get to work.  
>From my perspective a little dabble in an unsuccessful Unforgivable 
curse will help Harry understand why he *doesn't* need or want to go 
there.

Sue, who thinks Snape should take some of his own advise. 
("Evanesco!") ;)