Conspiracies and re-assessments

[naamagatus]

No: HPFGUIDX 112162

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "N. Tonks" <tonks_op at y...> 
wrote:
> Naama <naama_gat at h...> wrote:
> > I agree that James' abuse of Snape is true cruelty,and as such, 
> > evil. However, a single evil deed doesn't show a person to be 
> > evil, right? 
> > Everybody has cruel, sadistic streaks in them, that may surface 
> > at certain circumstances. I think that an evil person (per JKR, 
> > also) is one who isn't concerned about those tendencies, doesn't
> > try to fight them. The ultimate evil, as I said above, is to 
> > consciously choose to let the cruel tendencies reign. 
> 
> 
> Tonks here:
> 
> I do not agree that EVERYBODY has cruel, sadistic streaks in them. 
> Not everyone. Everyone is capable of evil or (sin), but this is not 
> the same as being cruel and sadistic!!  Can you honesty see Harry 
> doing something so stupid as to, as you say, "pants" someone. 
(since 
> I am 150 years only, this never happened when I was in school, and 
I 
> never heard the term until now.)
> 

Well, ok - I take the "everybody" back, but as regards Harry, we are 
specifically shown that he does have cruelty in him. He imagines 
torturing Snape with Cruciatus, and he actually does it to Bella. 
There is also a description in OoP (I don't have the books with me) 
where Harry says something to Hermione or Ron, or yells at them, and 
feels satisfaction at hurting them. Sorry not to be able to pinpoint 
that further. 

You know what? In light of this, I think that I would say that for 
JKR at least everybody does have cruelness in them (this, based on my 
understanding of Harry as Everyboy).


Naama