Dark Magic

[Nora Renka]

No: HPFGUIDX 114387

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "distaiyi" <distaiyi at y...> 
wrote:
> All of the previous posters have made good points, I just don't see 
> it the same way...
> 
> JKR has made it abundantly clear throughout her books that it isn't 
> the magic or the talent but what one does with it that matters. 
> Using that as an informative base for "Dark Magic" we must say 
> that "Dark Magic" is magic used for dark purposes.

I'm going to partially disagree here.  The 'choices' theme is, 
indeed, a little different than it is frequently remembered--it is 
our choices...that SHOW what we truly are.  Notably not phrased 
as 'make'.

There are things, I think, in JKR's world, that are *inherently* Dark 
Magic, no matter who uses them.  Now, it's also noted that perhaps, 
someone who is disinclined to be a dark wizard is not going to use 
these things, even though he or she could, which is a valid point.

I think there are classes of magic that are inherently dark because 
what it takes to do them is inherently dark.  Now, what is Dark in 
JKR's world is an interesting debate, but it seems to often involve 
1) force 2) the destruction of the right to be a subject (a thinking, 
self-controlling entity).  The Unforgiveables have been endlessly 
discussed in the light of Numbah Two there.  The other big piece of 
Dark Magic that we've seen, the resurrection, involves the forceable 
blood-letting, the misuse of human remains, etc.  I can easily 
envision other spells that *have no other purpose* other than to 
overrun another person, in a particular way.

Dark Magic is, in part, composed by intent--but I think in JKR's 
world, it has an essentialist component, too, which should not be 
neglected.

-Nora dresses in all black--tonight is Otello