Hermione and DU (was: CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chapter 33 - Fight and Flight)

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 119463


Vivamus wrote:
<snip>
> Just as Harry and LV have many similarities, even though they are
radically different, so Hermione and DU have similarities.  DU stomps
on other people because she can, and because she is a sadist, and
because she is the epitome of a power-hungry beaurocrat, but she
probably didn't start out that way. She probably started out thinking
that she was making the world a better place by "helping" people "for
their own good", and that is not altogether different from where
Hermione is. <snip>

Carol responds:
Umbridge's position as High Inquisitor has always reminded me of
Tolstoy's (or should I say Ivan Karamazov's) imaginary Grand
Inquisitor even though the Grand Inquisitor has at least some
admirable qualities. But like both Umbridge and Hermione, he thinks he
knows wha'ts best for people. The Grand Inquisitor wants the people to
remain ignorant and happy and is willing to commit murder to keep them
that way. Similarly, Umbridge, wants to simplify the students' lives
by having them study theory instead of practical magic, not having
Snape teach them potions that are too difficult for them, etc. She
wants to make them "happy" by taking away their fear of Voldemort and
is willing to sadistically punish any student who dares to contradict
her official "truth" with "lies."

Does anyone else think this is a deliberate parallel on JKR's part, or
am I just imagining similarities based on the similarity between "High
Inquisitor" and "Grand Inquisitor"?

In any case, Umbridge's high-handed idea of "helping" students through
indoctrination and punishing "false" ideas is certainly worse than
Hermione's desire to "help" those who don't share her version of the
truth, but the assumption of both that they possess a truth to be
imposed on others is, IMO, more than a bit scary. Hermione won't turn
into an Umbridge, I hope, but she does seem to share the Grand
Inquisitor's view that "happiness" (as they define it) can and should
be imposed on those who "need" it.

Carol, again just throwing out ideas in the hope of thoughtful reactions