Something wrong with this Fudge

[Matt]

No: HPFGUIDX 107296

meltowne wrote:
>>> I've been thinking about our friend from the 
>>> ministry, Cornelius Fudge. I can't quite decide 
>>> what to make of him, but I know there's something 
>>> odd that JKR has been hinting at all along. 
>>> [various insinuations about possible behind-the-
>>> scenes involvement by Fudge in misdeeds]

HunterGreen specifically tagged Fudge as evil

I wrote:
>> I'm not so sure about Fudge as evil; I see him more 
>> as the quintessential bureaucrat, who values process 
>> (or the appearance thereof), preservation of the 
>> status quo, and above all retaining his position of 
>> authority, while discounting principles and anything 
>> that makes his job more difficult than it needs to be.

Siriusly Snapey Susan replied:
> Hmmmm.  All those things you've said, Matt, do seem 
> to perfectly describe Fudge.  On the other hand, does 
> anybody else think it's just possible that JKR might be
> *deliberately* getting us to focus on "misguided, 
> bumbling, quintessential bureaucrat Fudge" so that we 
> don't seriously consider the possibility of his being ESE! 
> and "behind it all"??

Susan, I agree that it's a possibility, but I don't think it's a very
strong one.  Rowling has spent a lot of time in the books making the
point that many things in life cannot be neatly outlined in black and
white ("the world isn't split into good people and Death Eaters"). 
There are downright evil people like Voldemort and Bella who enjoy
causing others pain and suffering; there are mercenaries like
Pettigrew who are not evilly inclined per se but will do anything in
exchange for personal gain or security; there are people who appear to
spend all their time looking out for the good of others (Dumbledore,
Molly).  But most of Rowling's characters are more complex and
fallible in their motivations and their psychological makeup -- Snape,
Sirius, Mundungus, James, Hagrid, the Trio themselves, even Petunia.  

I think that Fudge falls into the latter category.  He is not an
admirable character, certainly; not someone that you would want to
trust; but he is not consciously serving Voldemort, either.  He is one
of those, perhaps, whose loyalties lie in the balance, who need to be
brought over to the side of the right and good.  If Rowling chose to
reveal him as capital-E Evil, she would be doing more than surprising
her readers; she would also be undermining one of the major themes
that she has developed through the novels to date.  

-- Matt