Harsh Morality (was Re: Double standards and believing)

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 121018


> Jen: 
 snip.


And Harry does seem to struggle with complex moral issues like why 
a 'good' person such as Seamus doesn't believe his story. And why 
Dumbledore would trust a 'bad' person like Snape. And how the once-
sainted James can be a good person and a bully at the same time. His 
moral complexity grows with his character. 


Alla:

Yes, Jen, absolutely, Harry struggles with moral issues and that IMO 
shows that grey areas right now, till the story is WIP, exist 
whether author wants them to or not, BUT do you think that at the 
end we will be left with any doubts as to who are the good guys in 
the story (those who support Dumbledore vs Voldemort supporters?)



> Jen: 

snip.


> There was no 'good' choice for Dumbledore to make in that 
situation. 
> Every choice would have an unintended or unwelcome consequence, 
> either for Harry or the WW. In PS/SS we had our first clue that 
> Dumbledore did not relish the choice he had made: "For a full 
minute 
> the three of them stood and looked at the little bundle; Hagrid's 
> shoulders shook, Professor McGonagall blinked furiously, and the 
> twinkling light that usually shone from Dumbledore's eyes seemed 
to 
> have gone out." (SS, chap. 1, p. 16)


Alla:

NO, there was no good choice. I wanted to know whether Dumbledore 
expressed regrets as to "bad choice" he had to make. Thanks for the 
quote.

Maybe my reading of his OOP speech is not overly optimistic after 
all. :o)



Jen: 

I can't quite see this in the story, not to the extent you see 
it, Lupinlore. It's because of the cognitive dissonance Harry 
experiences, something we are privy to through his internal 
dialogue. Like when he discovers James and Sirius were bullies. He 
can't quite dismiss the former impression he had of his father and 
best friend, yet he doesn't dismiss the new information, either. It 
would be so much *easier* to dismiss the new information or the old, 
and hold only one idea at a time, but Harry doesn't choose to do 
that. He's consistently willing to struggle with opposition which 
implies complex moral thinking. And as Harry goes, so goes the story.


Alla:

Actually, Harry does try to dismiss old information - up to the 
point when he wonders whether James forced Lily to marry him. He 
cannot fully grasp yet that his former Saint father could make 
mistakes while at school, but yes, I am sure Harry will eventually 
understand it. Thanks for another great example.

Alla