JKR's Messages (was Re: Hermione In Trouble?)

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 120721


SSSusan again:  
> > I think these two seem to support what I was saying upthread 
> > about Hermione (and Harry):  that the INTENTION of the  person 
> > matters when evaluating her/his actions.  JKR sees the trio  
> > as "innately good," making their own choices, trying to do the 
> > right  thing.  I think this means JKR isn't especially likely to 
> > think that  Hermione needs a comeuppance or punishment for her 
> > behaviors to date.
 
Pippin:
> I'm not sure I agree. For one thing, Hermione has already had 
> some comeuppances. The potion she made with stolen 
> ingredients turned her into a cat-creature , and her attempt to 
> sic the centaurs on Umbridge put her in mortal fear. I bet she 
> will think twice before using the xenophobia of others as a weapon 
> again.
> 
> Both incidents use the human/beast metaphor which FBAWTFT 
> makes explicit: the difference between a Being and a Beast is 
> not intelligence or moral sense but the agreement to be 
> governed by laws. Those who think there are universal moral 
> laws and all right thinking people know what they are, (and thus 
> no social contract is necessary) are probably not going to think 
> the books are moral books, because that doesn't seem to be the 
> point of view put forward. 
> 
> With Hermione, I think what JKR wants to show us  is how easy 
> it is to do the wrong thing *even when* one's intentions are good. 
> I think Hermione was as wrong to punish Marietta the way she 
> did as Umbridge was to use the quill on Harry; in both cases the 
> argument is less that punishment was undeserved as that it 
> was secret, cruel and unusual. 
 

SSSusan:
I can see your point somewhat, Pippin, especially about Marietta.  I 
think Hermione did go too far with that, and I think JKR *is* 
showing us that Hermione's intentions aren't enough with SPEW, 
either, as I mentioned in #120669. I'm not sure I'd put Hermione's 
actions re: DJU and the centaurs into this category, though.  In 
cases like that, if Hermione gets a comeuppance, fine.

What I'm saying is I hope I didn't imply that I believe there is a 
blanket "Everything they do is okay" hanging over the Trio, but 
rather that since JKR does call them "innately good" and does talk 
about fighting for what's right even if the battle will never be 
won, that she does make a distinction that "bad" or "wrong" behavior 
can definitely be good and right behavior if one's intentions are to 
fight evil/wrong.  

Maybe I misinterpreted what JKR meant by "the battle that will never 
be won" though  -- I assumed she meant the battle against evil and 
hypocrisy and ignorance and prejudice, those things which will 
unfortunately always be with us.  But maybe you've got a different 
take on it and can shed a different light on her remarks there.

But anyway, I guess my specific question in response to your post 
here is:  Would JKR really be telling us via the Hermione-turns-into-
a-cat episode that she's being *punished* or getting her comeuppance 
for stealing?  I mean, she may be the one who stole the ingredients, 
but the other two were equally involved in the process -- 
accessories, as it were -- and so if what she/they were doing was 
morally wrong & worthy of punishment/comeuppance, wouldn't JKR have 
had all *three* experience such consequence?  

Siriusly Snapey Susan