[HPforGrownups] Cheering on Harry (was : Re: Who is the adult (Was: Who's to blame ...))

[AnitaKH]

No: HPFGUIDX 100815



darrin_burnett <bard7696 at aol.com> wrote:

> Darrin wrote :
> > The Slytherins ARE the bad guys.
> > 
> > They aren't the underdogs. They aren't misunderstood. They aren't 
> > just waiting for a big old hug from some goth teen to redeem them.
> > 
> > They are thinly veiled cariactures of Nazis and KKK and Hitler 
Youth 
> > rolled into one.
> 
> Del replies :
> Erm... I think you've got things slightly wrong here, Darrin. It's 
the *Death-Eaters* who are all of that. Not the Slytherins. And I 
hope you don't assume that all Slytherins are bound to turn into DE, 
because that would be basically saying that 11-year-old kids can 
choose to be evil for the rest of their lives, which they can't.
> 

akh: I'm going to have to side with Darrin here.  While someone sorted into Slytherin isn't forced to become a Deatheater, clearly JKR has established that the qualities that make someone a good Slytherin also make that person a good Deatheater (see COS).  That Harry is not attracted to the bald ambition and elitist attitude that Draco evinces in Madame Malkins' and again on the train speaks to his qualities which do NOT make him either an ideal Slytherin or a good Deatheater.  

Using the Hitler Youth example, there were certainly children in that "program" who did not, ulitmately, buy into the propaganda (a neighbor of mine is a good example). The same may very well be true for the Slytherins, but they will need to be mature enough to make that kind of decision, which may be why we haven't seen it yet.  For the most part, they appear to be willing to do what it takes to gain power, and in their lifetimes, they've been taught by their parents that the Voldemort way is the sure way.

BTW, while I find him a bit impulsive, I, too, am very fond of Harry.

akh, who ought to be getting ready to fly to New York.


		
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