Marietta and Hermione (JKR's Messages )

[nrenka]

No: HPFGUIDX 120843


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "pippin_999" <foxmoth at q...> 
wrote:
 
> Pippin:

<snip>

> Maybe Machiavellian is a better word than tyrannical to describe 
> Hermione's methods. But if those are the methods JKR 
> approves, then why aren't the Slytherins the heroes of the 
> books?

In short: context and motivation.  JKR isn't a strict Kantian, where 
means are categorically (hee!) more important than the ends.  
Hermione's mistakes are, perhaps, a warning that one can slide over 
the edge when using any means to achieve your ends; but I suspect 
that the ends still rule over most things, in the implicit morality 
of the Potterverse.  Genuinely good intentions and a tough situation 
can produce results that are not exactly optimal, but it's still 
different coming from Hermione than coming from Draco or Umbridge, no?

This hearkens back to one of the so-far interesting critical issues 
in the books: JKR has done a better job giving us good characters who 
are conflicted and have to do complex things than in showing us the 
true vileness of what they're struggling against.  I've seen enough 
arguments about the 'essential moral equivalency' of Draco and Harry, 
the Trio and the Slytherins, Dumbledore and Voldemort, to send me 
heading for the toilet.  But maybe our few resident FEATHERBOAS will 
get lucky, next book.

-Nora is really gone now, really