Possession

[drjuliehoward]

No: HPFGUIDX 89921

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "suehpfan" <stanleys at s...> 
wrote:
> Julie wrote:
> Snip
> > A former post (I can't find it at present...no time) 
> > suggested that the "evil" is something much greater 
> > than Voldemort.  It is the same evil that possessed 
> > Grindelwald and possibly the same that possessed ole 
> > Sal.  Remember when Flitwick (in the movie MM) talked 
> > about the founders?  SS got along with them at first 
> > then dissented.  I think having an evil presence that 
> > can possess others (SS, Grindelwald, Tom) makes this 
> > a far more complex and dimensional character development 
> > than "Tom = Bad Guy and Harry = Good Guy."
> > 
> > much more snipping (I am trying to behave)
> 
> Sue here:
> From my perspective, having an evil force that possesses people 
and 
> moves through time makes the characters far less complex.  How 
easy, 
> how simple.  No one ever has to be accountable for their actions, 
> they were posssessed.  I see complexity of character as being born 
> from gut wrenching decisions, the ones that no one wants to make. 
For 
> instance, the decision Harry made in the shrieking shack when he 
> saved Wormtail's life.  The decision Harry makes at the end of 
every 
> book to put himself back in the care of the Dursleys and follow 
the 
> rules.  Etc.
> 
> Tom Riddle was faced with many similar decisions and his choices 
were 
> profoundly different.  He decided (IMO) to enter the chamber and 
> release the monster, he decided to kill his father and 
grandparents, 
> etc.  I believe the quote from JKR in a previous post (can't 
locate 
> it right now) stating that Voldemort was an example of wrong 
choices 
> which he began making at an early age is really important.  I see 
> Harry and Tom as being basically identical (there are many 
references 
> to this in canon) and that as they grow up they make markedly 
> different choices and hence become markedly different people.
> 
> In the end, I believe, we will see two complete people. Tom 
Riddle, a 
> guy who made poor choices and wound up with no choice but to live 
> with the consequences, even if there may be times he would rather 
> not. Harry who will also have to live with the consequences of his 
> choices, good and bad.
> 
> I don't see either character as so simple (Tom=bad, Harry=good).  
I 
> do know that in the RW there are really bad people who NEVER feel 
> accountable for their actions (ie. the serial killer who murders 
> countless victims and then blames his mother and alchohol etc). 
Some 
> people are just bad, I don't see that as making them less complex.
> 
> Ramble, Ramble....Sue

Sorry for the misconception.  I never meant that they would 
be "absolved" because they were possessed.  Nor that they could cop 
out saying, "The Devil made me do it!"  I also did not mean that 
the "possession" was not by choice.  I used the word "possessed" 
because that was the original post.  What I am talking about is 
empowered.  They were presented with a choice (much like LOTR ring) 
and chose to be empowered by whatever this "power source" was.  Just 
as LOTR (Smeagoll/Gollum specifically), the choice was always before 
them.  

Choice is the major theme for the septology.  I just think that the 
choice TR made was made by possibly two others before him, and most 
likely will be a choice Harry is faced with at the end.

Julie