Harsh Morality

[delwynmarch]

No: HPFGUIDX 121070


Alla wrote:
" in RL I would be very wary to give up on the eleven year old child ,
no matter how evil his parents are, therefore I consider Draco's 
portrayal to be one of JKR's biggest letdowns in the books."

Del replies:
Is it a letdown, or is it consistent with the Platonic view of Good
and Evil? In this view, Draco is evil because he believes his father
and refuses to follow DD, so I guess it is morally right to give up on
him. Just like I suppose it could be said that it is morally right to
give up on a whole bunch of kids who have the wrong priorities
(ambition instead of courage or loyalty).

Alla wrote:
"Accordingly, yes, I do castigate Snape for despising Harry. As to how
 he would learn about Harry's true nature? Ummmm, I don't know,
Severus try TALKING and ASKING questions of Dumbledore, Minerva,
Harry's friends (yeah, that would be hard, I guess)."

Del replies:
But then, who *ever* does anything like that in the Potterverse?
People gossip a bit, but they rarely *talk* to each other. Worse,
asking questions seems to be a bad thing. Seamus gets punished for
daring to ask questions to Harry for example. Sirius has to fight so
Harry is allowed to ask a few *basic* questions to the Order. The
Weasley kids have to fight to be allowed to listen to the answers too.
And DD keeps putting a limit to the questions Harry has a "right" to ask.

Alla wrote:
"Or, try talk to Harry. Somehow I think that the teacher of the core 
subject should be able to figure out how to get to know one of his 
students."

Del replies:
I think Snape is convinced he's already figured Harry out, and that
Harry would lie to him if they talked.

Del