CHAPT. DISCUSSION: Chapter 25, The Beetle At Bay

[kiricat2001]

No: HPFGUIDX 111822

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "potioncat" <willsonkmom at m...> 
wrote:
>  
> > > Debbie: 
> > > 
> > > I don't think so.  To be honest, there's something very 
> unsettling  about the fact that she assembles a pair of people she 
> has little or  no respect for (Rita and Luna) and gets them to do 
> her bidding.  
> >> > 
> > 
> > Asian_lovr2:> 
> > In essense, Hermione is saying to a criminal, act in a moral, 
> ethical, and legal manner, or I will tell people you are a 
criminal. 
> While that may technically fit the definition of Blackmail, is 
> anyone really going to see it that way
> 
> 
> potioncat:
> It would depend on who was "looking."  Hermione didn't have the 
> authority to do this.  What if your neighbor allowed a criminal to 
> rent his house as long as he "behaved." 
> 
> Steve:
> Another example; if you tell your kids, do
> > your chores or else ...no allowance. That's blackmail, but would
> > anyone really consider it blackmail? I think not in both cases.
> 
> Potioncat:
> But parents have the authority to make and enforce rules.  Hermione 
> had no such authority.  Had Lucius Malfoy done something like this 
> we'd be very upset.

Marianne:
I think Potioncat hits on the very note that allows us (or a lot of 
us) to give Hermione some wiggle room in her actions.  We think her 
motivations are good, whereas we know we can't trust Malfoy. 

Hermione's not trying to enrich herself or gain something for 
herself.  She's not making Rita do something simply because she holds 
power over her.  She's doing it because she believes she's acting for 
the greater good.  It's very Hermione-ish.  SPEW is for the good of 
the elves.  Leading Umbridge to the centaurs is for the greater good 
of getting out of Dolores' clutches so that she and Harry can do even 
more good things.

And, I think it is exactly this sort of thing that will blow up in 
her face in Book 6 ot 7.  She'll take some sort of arbitrary, 
manipulative action that she thinks is for the greater good, and this 
time she will find out that she doesn't have all the answers and that 
good intentions don't always excuse one's behavior.

Marianne