PERCY: DD's Personal Spy or Ministry's Puppet? (Long)

[better2begryffindor]

No: HPFGUIDX 111351

<Agent_Maxine_is at h...> wrote:

<snip of a great post!>

> Percy is supreme in his arrogance: he can't get enough of himself!
> Proud, very proud. Throughout the whole series he almost seems
> unaware and oblivious to Ron's dislike for Percy's 'highway
> promotion' (sorry, can't think of better words!) I think he truly
> believes that everyone must strive to follow his footsteps. He also
> knows Fred and George don't like it and they made fun of him
> constantly. Why the sudden change of attitude? This is very
> stereotypical of Percy: "Yes, finally my little brother taking my
> route! I am the 'next big thing' and so good for you."
> 
> Unless one would like to argue this was all in act and disguise.
> That's a bit too much stretch for me.

True, but I don't think that Percy's arrogance need necessarily be 
discounted when determining the intent of his letter or of his 
actions, nor do I believe it should completely condemn him.  His 
arrogance is a part of who he is.  After all, it is a continual 
source of surprise to Harry et. al. that Snape, with his charming 
personality, is part of the Order.  But JKR has made clear 
throughout the series that choices, and not personality, are what 
count.

 (5) What about Dumbledore escaping in front of Fudge and Percy?
> -- I was waiting for *someone* to explain this, but so far nothing,
> so I'm raising this point. At the mini-trial of DD in his office
> after DA was discovered, Percy seemed besides himself. He was quite
> hyper being the secretary of the hearing, and utterly disappointed
> and upset when DD escapes.

Great point!  I didn't think of that.  But after re-reading this 
passage, I thought his actions seem almost overdone.  Either he IS 
beside himself and overexcited, or he is over-acting.  (I point to 
his "hearty laugh" at Fudge's sarcastic mention of Harry's hearing-- 
it just seems a little too much).  He is sent out of the room just 
prior to DD's escape so we don't get that reaction from him, but 
what little we do see of him is just a shade more overblown than 
usual.  But I also believe that no matter his motivations, as a 
brown-noser just two years out of school, he would be thrilled to be 
part of such an "important meeting."  This is Percy, after all, and 
ambition is his weakness. 

> (6) So *everyone* in Potterverse is either Spy or Death Eater?
> -- I like the idea of Percy, the immature and stubborn youngster,
> being totally misguided by propaganda. Fooled by the Ministry and
> used as the political manipulation victim, right under his nose. It
> is more realistic that way: that some people are genuinely misled 
and
> fooled, others fight in war or cause the war. Just because we 
*want*
> certain characters to behave the way we want (be good or evil but
> really just in disguise) it doesn't mean they are, or should be. I
> personally don't want everyone to be either spies, or the Order
> members, or the Death Eaters, or the former DEs. That's too boring,
> no?

While I'm not sure I agree with the idea that Percy is either being 
used or is a victim (though I will agree with immature and 
stubborn), I believe you are on to something here.  I think it would 
be VERY boring if everyone had to be all good or all evil.  JKR has 
confirmed that he is acting on his own.  We know that he comes from 
a poor background and is consumed by the desire to succeed in the 
MoM.  What I don't believe is that this ambition necessarily marks 
him as an evil person who will go against DD and the cause of good 
to follow Voldemort.  I think that his letter is so interesting 
because whether he is spying for the Order or not (and I think that 
there is evidence to suggest both), it shows that he still cares for 
his family and for THEIR cause enough to send along a warning.  And 
when the time comes that he has to choose a side (for I think that 
the series definitely moves toward that idea at the end of OOTP), he 
will not allow ambition, pride or his general Percy-ness to stand in 
the way of doing what is right.  

I love this discussion!  Percy, no matter which way you read him, is 
one of the most interesting characters in the series!

Kim