Peter's basic nature v Snape basic nature/ Which one is worse? Pure speculat

[ornadv]

No: HPFGUIDX 145007


>Magpie:
>This is why I don't understand reading Malfoy's own lowering of his
>wand as cowardice. He's put in a similar situation to Peter in HBP
>(not the same, but similar). He's got every reason to kill
>Dumbledore. If he doesn't kill him Voldemort will kill him and kill
>his family-just as Peter is saying here. Dumbledore has always been
>the enemy to his family, so he's got even less reason to want him
>spared. Yet he still can't bring himself to commit this evil act
>(It also matters that Dumbledore know he didn't
>intend Greyback to come to Hogwarts--these are all baby steps 
>towards morality for someone who's actively fought the idea his 
>whole life.)

>Yet killing this innocent person still matters in ways it *does not 
>matter* to Peter, who always chooses to commit the murder. And 
>Malfoy isn't even making the same choice as Peter in considering 
>Dumbledore's offer, since Dumbledore offers to protect his family 
>too.
>Perhaps the difference is that Malfoy has hope where Peter did not,
>but that can make a difference.

Orna:

I liked the "baby-steps" towards morality. And seeing Draco, as a 
teenager doing those steps is important, because he is on the verge 
of an act of supreme evilness. I think it is important, that Draco 
gets hope and mercy from DD, while Wormtail is confronted with hate, 
a threat to be killed every second, and nearly no hope. 
But – we see him seek hope in trying to persuade Harry, Ron, 
Hermione with every thing he can think about – talking about what 
wonderful pet he had been to Ron, reminding Harry of James – and 
none of his words did even suggest he did a horrible thing, he felt 
anything like baby-remorse. His subsequent steps – looking for 
Voldemort reaffirms this - he has really no traces of morality in 
himself – no hesitation to kill, to wriggle himself out of tight 
situations with lies, betrayal, killing innocent people – anything 
goes. Voldemort tells him this directly – that he has come for 
nothing – only for himself.

I just wanted to add something about Draco – he had some moral-
instinct in himself, which showed itself in being horrified by 
having Grayback at school, but also at his hesitation to kill DD 
right away. That's when DD told him he wasn't a killer – because 
before he did this (important) step of lowering his wand – he wasn't 
capable of killing – he talked, and actually listened to DD, didn't 
like some of the things he heard about himself, but seemed to take 
them to heart. Wormtail, OTOH, doesn't hesitate for a second to 
kill  - we see it with Cedric, but there is also Sirius telling us 
that little Peter was too quick for him - which means IMO, he didn't 
have any cramps killing with one curse 13 muggles.

Orna