Support for the ESE Lupin theory (not)

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 123821


Neri:
<snip well written reply>
 So in
> JKR's view ESE!Lupin would *be* a heinous mass murderer 
and traitor who, very superficially, has some good abilities. He 
certainly cannot be described as a "wonderful" person. She 
might write such a character, but *liking* him seems out of the 
question

Pippin:
Why?  We seem to have agreed   that liking and favoring are 
superficial emotional reactions to superficial traits. Genuine 
compassionate love, which hopes and endures all things as 
one teacher put it, has  nothing to do with them. So, IMO, JKR 
can like ESE!Lupin even though she knows what he is, because, 
in her mind, he is a tragic figure whose end will inspire pity and 
fear rather than hatred and loathing. 

Neri:
In fact, it is probably not a coincidence that JKR is bad at writing 
three-dimensional, likable arch-villains. They don't go very well 
with one of her most fundamental themes. But she's certainly not 
"dull" with many other kinds of characters.

Pippin:
You are referring to Voldemort, I presume? But you ignore the 
possibility that we are *supposed* to feel unsatisfied with 
Voldemort's portrayal at this point. Our understanding of the 
other characters has deepened, yet Voldemort remains a 
cardboard black hat in the eyes of the WW.

 JKR has told us there is more to come about him and said we 
should be wondering why Dumbledore does not try to kill him. I 
believe JKR is teaching us that  it is shallow to think of our 
enemies as black hats, and that we should seek to understand 
them and even to have compassion on them.

Pippin