ESE!Fudge

[Pat]

No: HPFGUIDX 113398

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Hannah" <hannahmarder at y...> 
wrote:
> Macfotuk wrote:
> > A newbie recently posted a 'don't you think Fudge might be 
evil?' 
> > post
>  <snip>
> > I really can't imagine why readers don't see this guy as at the 
> > least deliberately obstructive and at worst a real ally of LV 
(or 
> > severely imperio'd victim). I am so glad he appears to be going, 
> but I want him punished. He isn't bumbling and well-meaning, or 
even 
> *simply* prepared to do anything to acqire and then retain power. 
> <snip>
>  
> Hannah now: Personally I hope that Fudge doesn't turn out to be a 
> DE, or even imperio'd.  Otherwise it's like saying; there is only 
> one type of evil.  You're either good, or you're a death eater (or 
> controlled by them).  
> 
> 
> I think JKR is writing a multilayered book and will try to show 
that 
> evil is not just one thing.  There is LV and the death eaters, who 
> are evil in a cut-and-dried, can-do-no-right kind of way.  But 
> there's also Crouch Sr., who was fighting for 'good' but embraced 
> techniques that could be considered 'evil.'  There's Umbridge (and 
> IMO she isn't a DE either) who also did evil things, for different 
> reasons.  
> 
> I think Fudge is there to show that you can do evil indirectly, 
> through laziness, indifference, and self-interest.
> Just my opinion.
> Hannah

Pat now:

When I first read OotP, I was convinced that both Fudge and Umbridge 
were DE's.  But subsequent readings have changed my mind.  At one 
point (I think it's Sirius) says to Harry that the world isn't 
divided into good wizards and Death Eaters, that some people are 
just evil on their own.

Fudge is an example of the worst kind of politician--he will do 
anything to keep the power he has (which he knows he shouldn't have 
gotten in the first place), and to gain more power. Umbridge seems 
to have her own agenda as well, but we really don't quite know what 
her goal is, and we may never know after her encounter with the 
centaurs.

I agree that JKR is showing that the world has people who only think 
of themselves, with no regard for the rest of humanity.  It's 
probably the best reason we need to keep an eye on those who attain 
power or who are given power in elections.  Fudge, however, gained 
power by default when Crouch Sr was demoted and DD wouldn't take the 
job.  He knows he shouldn't be there, and that any little mis-step 
on his part will result in his loss of his beloved position. Any 
proof from Harry that Voldemort is a direct threat to Fudge staying 
in the job.  So, naturally, he would deny and discredit Harry.  Then 
with DD backing up Harry's story and warning that the DE's are 
reforming because Voldemort is back, was all that Fudge needed to 
convince him that DD also had to be dealt with.

Umbridge will clearly do anything to make sure she stays in power, 
including allying herself with the person(s) who seem to have the 
most of it.  That, however, doesn't mean that I think she is a DE--
though I did think that at the beginning just because she was so 
evil.  It is interesting that Fudge placed her at Hogwarts, but she 
seems to be enthralled with anything Fudge does, that he probably 
felt that he could control her and keep a better eye on DD and 
Harry.  I'm sure he had no idea that she would strike out on her own 
with sending the dementors after Harry during the summer.

The other reason I'm convinced that Fudge is not a death eater, but 
just evil, is that if he were a death eater, his behavior would be 
more like that of Lucius--careful to maintain an appearance of 
propriety.  Lucius is very careful to at least seem to have reformed 
from his Voldermort days.  Fudge, however, makes no effort to stay 
on good terms with DD after GOF--hearing that Voldemort is back is 
just too much evidence that his time in the ministry is short-
lived.  Once people learn how inept he has been, he'll be out.  And 
now we have learned that, indeed, he is going to be replaced.

Pat