DD and the rat (was:Re: Minerva McGonagall/Dumbledore)

[hogsheadbarmaid]

No: HPFGUIDX 115779




Barmaid randomly snips what is impossible to snip:

Kneasy:

I don't have to convince you of anything, just as you don't have to
convince me - it's an impossibility anyway, given the twists, switches
and concealed information that JKR seems addicted to. We have a 
modicum
of information and we make of it what we will. And JKR's 
pronouncements
can be as misleading as the clues in the books. From being her
favourite character (stated in interview after OoP was published) who
she cried buckets over, Sirius is now downgraded to a socially 
retarded
misfit with double standards who *had* to die and who we will learn
more about in due course. The fact that she's written reams on his
back-history is encouraging; whatever comes out it's unlikely to be
boring.

Nora:
So, go for, Kneasy! Convince me that a dead character is going to have
his function completely changed in the story, and the thematic idea he
represents completely tossed out the window. Convince me that
Voldemort's spy wouldn't have or know about the Dark Mark.
Convince me that JKR has been completely sneakily hiding the TRUTH
about this character behind her nice words. God knows he's not perfect
in any way, shape, or form--but your willful character mutilation goes
way beyond that. :)


Kneasy:
"Wilful character mutilation" - I like it, though a trifle emotional,
I think.


Barmaid timidly sticks her toe in the water:

This thread is so amazing and beautiful.  You guys are brilliant.  I 
feel a bit like Peter P as I attempt to enter where I am not really 
worthy.  But, having some of Peter's determination (but hopefully 
none of his motivation), I try once more.

I would be very disappointed if either Sirius or Lupin ended up being 
traitors.  I find that JKR has constructed a very complex, nuanced 
and important discussion of "good and evil" and how these concepts 
play out in the world, WW or RL.

I strongly see the characters as "types", but not typical two 
dimensional types we often find when "good and evil" are explored.  I 
believe (and could certainly be proven wrong in books 6 and 7) that 
this exploration of good and evil is an overriding motivation for JKR 
and will win out over simply trying to make the most surprising our 
outrageous plot twists.  Now, I know I have a vision limited by 
current canon and I could find that an even more complex and nuanced 
vision is served by a plot twist that changes my idea of what "types" 
Sirius, Lupin or Peter may be.  

In that context here is what I think is important about Peter and why 
I believe he is the traitor:

I do not see a conflict between Peter as a rather weak and less 
talented wizard and Peter as an effective spy.  Peter is someone who 
is completely externally referenced.  His self image is all tied up 
in who he is hanging out with, what those people think of him and 
what others think of him because of his associations.  Peter is very 
determined to be accepted by and useful to those more talented and 
powerful than he himself is and thus to be able to share in the glow 
of that power.  As someone less talented he has figured out that this 
is his path to some pale sort of greatness.  

While his animigus form is rather pathetic, the fact that he can do 
it at all is impressive, most wizards can not.   His determination to 
be in the company of the coolest guys on campus won out over his 
limited talent.  While this shows a weakness of character it also 
shows a strength of will.  This strength of will would serve him well 
once he finds that there is more secondhand power to be inhaled by 
getting close to LV and the DE's than there is being a straggler with 
the Marauders.  It seems that the Marauders keep him at arms length – 
not really close enough to get that power contact buzz.  He is close 
enough though, and underestimated enough, to do damage.

There is a way in which Peter's actions (taken at face value and 
accepting Sirius and Lupin's version of events) show that he really 
believes in LV's doctrine of "no good or evil, only power."   He is 
so focused on himself and his need to find worth, and a measure of 
power, in someone else's shadow that he can do things that are hard 
for him and scary for him through this determination, that both 
clouds and focuses his mind.  But this is a dangerous road to take, 
especially for someone who *is* essentially weak.  It is easy to get 
in over his head, but when it comes to self preservation he is able 
to focus all of his skills, mental and magical, and act in a quick 
and clever manor.  

I believe Peter is the traitor that Sirius and Lupin tell us he is.  
I believe his character provides an important glimpse of the 
particular way in which "evil" can use this dangerous combination of 
low self image that is externally referenced and a strong sense of 
self preservation.   Peter is a rat – as in rat fink – as in will 
sell out his friends, because they are not *really* friends but only 
one of many means to be used to find a secure place near power. 

As hard and scary as it is for him, there is no place more powerful 
(from the point of view of this "type") than the one in which we find 
him in GoF.  He is indispensable and could see himself as 
irreplaceable in keeping LV alive and in bringing him back his body.  
His weakness and his strength are so intertwined in GoF, both on 
display in all their glory.

Maybe next time I will hold forth on Sirius, but for now I will stop 
and bow to the greatness of Kneasy and Nora whose theories and ideas 
give me much to think about!

           --barmaid