DD as a grownup (was:Re: [HPforGrownups] Re: Plot in OotP

[annegirl11 at juno.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 118236

Alla said:
> Alla:
> No, definitely not.

Wait. Your name's Alla? I've been calling you by your email addy this
whole time! Why didn't you say something? Sorry! But sign your posts,
darling!

> Oh, of course. The question is though whether he at least tries to 
> remember that his soldiers are human beings.

Most of the time, I think yes. But, as you said, I don't trust that he
always understands the psychology of the people he leads. (MOST of the
time, yes. But he's fallable.) I don't think it's so much that he's old
-- he does have a youthful side -- but that he came of age in a different
world. He was born around 1840; "generation gap" doesn't begin to cover
the differences between DD and Sirius and DD and Harry. :) When DD was a
kid, locking your kid in the corn crib and whipping them with a switch
was normal, respectable parenting. And, as an old nona in a movie said:
"When I was young, you did what you had to do [jobwise]. And if you
didn't like it? Well, you did it anyway."  The idea that 12GP was a bad
idea because Sirius may not be *happy* probably didn't weigh to much in
his consideration. DD probably thought it was good for Sirius to face his
demons and get over them.

I don't mean to call DD foolish. 100 years ago, even 50 years ago, this
is how things were. This was common sense. DD came of age in a harsher
world when the needs of the individual weren't as important as the needs
of the group; this mentality was necesary for survival.

Incidentally, this does coincide with DD being presented as "the epitome
of goodness." He has good intentions. He tries. He just doesn't always
succeed. 

Incidentally2: I don't really consider what JKR says in interviews when
it comes to analyzing the books. Between human error, tone of voice that
doesn't come across in interviews, and her wily crafty ways, taking
interviews as canon just isn't sound. When it comes to interpreting the
text, I always go with the text.

Aura

~*~
"What he didn't like about heroes was that they were usually suicidally
gloomy when sober and homicidally insane when drunk."
- Discword
http://archive.skyehawke.com/authors.php?no=606