Moral Ambiguity in Main Characters

[abadgerfan2]

No: HPFGUIDX 126955


I recently read a crtique of the "Potter" books that caused me to 
briefly question whether, as a parent, I should be endorsing the 
series as whole-heartedly as I have. I remain a big fan, but I'd like 
to at least expose others to a few of the critiques and hear their 
views on such criticisms that I saw.  I'll start this message w just 
one such point!

The first criticism was that the books "clearly teach that obedience 
to rules or morality is required only when such obedience serves you 
best." This cynical attitude of it's only wrong if you get caught may 
well describe the "real world", but the argument is do we want to 
teach our youngsters such values? The critiquer points to the amount 
of rule-breaking and lying by Harry and his pals, the gradual 
corrupting of Hermoine to share such situational values, and even 
Dumbledore's rewarding or overlooking Harry's blatant disobedience to 
rules, while acknowledging (in Book 4) his own ambiguous moral compass 
("It is my belief . . . that truth is generally preferable to lies.")

Your views?????