Draco = Evil?(was: Elkins' Draco Malfoy Is Ever So Lame. )

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 124917


Betsy:
Yes - I was talking about the end of GoF and the end of OotP (and 
you could throw in the fight in OotP too).  OotP could be excused.  
Maybe.  He and Crabbe and Goyle attempted to ambush Harry and a 
larger group overpowered them.  There's an element of defense there 
that was missing in the GoF scene.  Which was highly revolting to 
me.  I don't think Draco or Crabbe or Goyle even grabbed their 
wands.  Plus, they were attacked from behind by wizards two years 
their senior, plus, they were stepped on while unconscious, plus, 
they were never checked on, no adult was notified.  It was all 
rather cold-blooded and ruthless, to my mind.
 
Alla earlier: 
Could Gryffs handled it better? Sure, I guess. But I firmly believe 
that they were provoked by death threats to Hermione, therefore 
again hurt/comfort fails spectacularly in my eyes. "Just deserts", 
definitely.<
 
Betsy:
They could have handled it like Gryffindors.  There was nothing 
brave or honorable in their attack.  The whole, "death threat," 
argument is fairly weak to me.  Typical justification of mob 
justice, actually.  "He had it coming," is a popular excuse.

Alla:

Well, I am actually at loss how to respond to it, to tell you the 
truth and I am not kidding. 

Let's look at the scene again, shall we?


"The door of the compartment slid open.
"Very clever, Granger," said Draco Malfoy.
Carabbe and Coyle were standing behind him. All three of them looked 
more pleased with themselves, more arrogant and more menacing, than 
Harry had ever seen them.
...

Trying not to think about it, are we?" said Malfoy softly, looking 
around at all three of them. "Trying to pretend it hasn't happened?"

"Get out," said Harry.
He had not been this close to Malfoy since he had watched him 
mutterring to Crabbe and Goyle during. Dumbledore's speech about 
Cedric. he could feel kind a kind of ringing in his ears. His hand 
gripped the wand in his robes.
You've picked the losing side, Potter! I warned you! I told you you 
ought to choose your company more carefully, remember? When we met 
on the train, first day of Hogwarts? I told you not to hang  around 
with riffraff like this!" he jerked his head at Ron and 
Hermione. "Too late now, Potter! They'll be the first to go, now the 
Dark Lord's back. Mudbloods and Muggle-lovers first! Well - second - 
Diggory was the f-"

It was as though someone had exploded a box of fireworks within the 
compartment." - GoF, p.729, paperback, am.edition.

Malfoy shouted a "death threat" . You call it an excuse for mob 
justice. I call it a justifiable provocation for what Malfoy and Co 
got, when they appeared uninvited in Gryffs appartment.

Harry tries to tell him to get out. Does Draco listen? No, not 
really. Instead he tells him that his best friends will be the first 
one to die soon AND he gloats over Cedric death. Yep, I understand 
Harry's reaction perfectly.

Would I advocate physical violence in RL, if someone is provoked? 
Nope, unless it is a self defense and here I see a signs of both ( 
of course it looks more like provocation to me, but in fictional 
reality I can afford to gloat a little bit over Draco's demise)




Betsy:
Draco started a fight with *Harry*.  Harry didn't turn Draco into a 
ferret, a teacher with a grudge against his father, did that.  Draco 
*always* loses unfairly.  He's always set upon by much greater odds 
or by adult wizards with far greater skill.
 
It's bizarre to me, Alla, that you can get so outraged about Snape 
taking away points from Harry for admitting to fighting in the 
halls, but when Draco is caught doing the same thing you're all for 
physical and emotional punishment of a fairly extreme nature.  
Obviously, you feel Draco is evil - should be shot at dawn.  Why?  


Alla:

Because Draco to me represents ideology, which I despise with great 
passion, because people of my ethnicity suffered from such ideology 
all their lives in my former country( I mentioned several times that 
I see antisemitism as most close metaphor for "purebloodism" in RL, 
therefore it does strike a nerve with me.).

I am NOT inclined to see Draco's threats as "empty", because I know 
that person does not says such serious words unless he/she means 
them. 

I also like being manipulated by JKR. If she gave me one small 
hint , tiny one that Draco may be redeemed in the future, I would 
probably be more charitable towards him.


Alla:
I also don't see Draco as underdog. I see Snape favouring him over 
and over again during his lessons.<
 
Betsy:
Yes, one teacher quite likes Draco.  One.  In the entire school. Who 
does Harry have on his side?  Oh yes, the *headmaster*.  Plus, the 
one, lone teacher who likes Draco is charged with protecting Harry's 
life.  Weigh them on the scales, Draco is still very much, the 
underdog.


Alla:

Since we probably see Potions classes in the most detail, that is 
what matters to me. You know, if I had SEEN how other teachers treat 
Draco badly at their lessons, I could have changed my POV. Right now 
all that I see is Snape doing unfair treatment of Harry and 
favouritism of Draco, therefore I don't see Draco as underdog at all.

JKR is very good at manipulating  me.

Just my opinion,

Alla