[HPforGrownups] Re: The Dursleys, the Weasleys, Hagrid, and Snape: Nice people get a pass

[Charme]

No: HPFGUIDX 125079


"lupinlore" <bob.oliver at c...> wrote:
>>
>> There has been a lot of discussion about several topics that I think
>> come together.  One discussion has been about the Dursleys and
>> Dumbledore.  One has been about Snape.  One has been about Molly and
>> her parenting techniques.  And we have had plenty of discussions in
>> the past about Hagrid and his teaching techniques.
>>
>> Now, I think this raises some interesting points.  Why do those of us
>> who despise the Dursleys not get upset when Molly seems to play
>> favorites?  Why do those of us who despise Snape not get upset at
>> Hagrid's teaching, which is physically if not emotionally dangerous.
>>
>> Well, the answer of course is that the Weasleys and Hagrid are nice
>> and Snape and the Dursleys aren't.  Therefore the former get a pass to
>> a certain extent and the latter don't.  And, here is the clencher, I
>> think THAT IS PERFECTLY APPROPRIATE.

<snip>
>>I think this helps us get at the reason most of us (at least most of
>>us who have expressed our opinions) can't see any hope for Draco.  His
>>intentions are so boldly and inherently bad that they mark him as evil
>>in the context of the Potterverse in both big and small things.
>>Hagrid, on the other hand, has blatantly good intentions in all
>>things, and is therefore marked as good.


Charme:

First, I don't feel sorry, despise, or provide a pass for the Dursleys.  The 
Dursleys are what they are due to a problem with their own perceptions of 
themselves, beginning squarely with Petunia IMO. I see it that Petunia has 
displaced her need for "normalcy" into a self deception which has grown 
exponentially as such delusions always do to include areas outside those of 
the original intent:  her perception of Dudley is a prime example of such 
extremes.  I hate to say this but the same applies for Draco; although if 
you think of it, other than resting his laurels on his pureblood status, 
what else has the kid got really? Have we seen what he really is?

As far as Molly is concerned, show me a family that isn't dysfunctional in 
some way (nobody is perfect, WW or RL included.) The jury is still out on 
Snape IMO - we don't have enough info about Snape to assess his complete 
moral compass, however that doesn't mean I have to like some of his (or any 
of the other characters noted above) more questionable actions. :)

Charme