Filch and other unsavory Characters

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 110963

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Annette" <CariadMel at a...> wrote:

> 
> 
> ***** Argus Filch must be one of the most odious charecters created 
> by JKR , even more so than the Dursleys or the Malfoys. They have 
> warped reasons for their prejudices but Filch is just plain 
> nasty.... In OOTP, he revels in cruelty and he supports the attempt 
> to undermine DD. ... Why does DD employ this man?
>
> This has puzzled me since the obvious choice for caretaker of 
> Hogwarts is Hagrid. As Keeper of Keys he surely has more seniority 
> than Filch. What is Filch's purpose at the school? Apart from 
> keeping Mrs. Norris in a constant supply of mice and gossip.
> 
> Nettie

b_boymn:

When asked about Snape, JKR said (greatly paraphrased) that
Dumbldedore keeps Snape around because he knows that there are all
kinds of lessons to be learn in life, and that the best of them don't
necessarily come out of books.

Plus, there are always the memories. In years to come, and in all
likelihood at this very moment, former Hogwart's students are raising
a tankard of ale and laughing uproariously, as they exchange stories
not of good times, but of horrendous encounters with Filch, Snape, and
Peeves. These are the memories and life lessons that will endure far
longer than facts and figures from Prof. Binn's lectures on the Giant
Wars and Goblin Uprisings.

As an author, I think JKR included nasty and somewhat ambiguous
characters to prevent the Disneyfication (happiest place on earth) of
Hogwarts. One could say, she presents Hogwarts warts and all. 

I was thinking last night of an alternate way that the Umbridge's
monitoring of Tralawney could have played out. I frequently do this as
it stimulates my mind and frequently inspires potential fanfic plots.
The insight I gained from this excesize is that Harry finds Hogwarts a
very conflicting place. At once, he finds in the most comfortable
place, the place, by his own admission, that feels more like home than
any other. But at the same time, Hogawrts is a painful place; a place
where he has suffered much misery. The bulk of the student body is
frequently against him, he endures their stares, mumblings, and
rumors, he has suffered many humiliations at the hands of Malfoy,
every years something majorly bad happens to him. Filch is miserable,
Snape is horrendous, Binns is painfully boring, Umbridge in criminal,
McGonagall is strict, he's alway in trouble, etc... etc... etc.... 

In summary, Harry both feels at home and very much alienated at Hogwarts.

It's due to characters like Filch that Hogwarts is a complex,
intriguing, interesting, and conflicted place for the many mysteries
to unfold. 

In closing, I think Dumbledore understands Filch's own conflicted
nature, and will forgive and forget. 

Just a few thoughts.

Steve/b_boymn