Harsh Morality - Combined answers

[hickengruendler]

No: HPFGUIDX 121099


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "delwynmarch" 
<delwynmarch at y...> wrote:
 
> Del replies:
> No, I'm not the one doing that : that's the way things are presented
> in the books. More precisely, anyone who doesn't see that Harry and 
DD
> are right is evil. I've always claimed that morality is highly
> dependent on many things, including past experiences and emotional
> circumstances. But in the books, those things don't matter. The fact
> that Percy was overstressed and badly hurt by what his father told
> him, the fact that Seamus and Marrietta were stuck between 
conflicting
> loyalties, the fact that Harry looks so much like Snape's past
> tormentor, all those things are presented as not mattering, not 
being
> any kind of excuse, and those people are presented not only as wrong
> but even evil for making the wrong choices they made. I happen to
> disagree strongly.

Hickengruendler:

In all respect, but I happen to disagree with about everything you 
wrote. I already gave my opinion about Seamus in my previous post. I 
stand by it and just want to add, that there were several scenes, 
where Seamus wanted to talk too Harry before they made up. IMO, the 
books made it obvious that Seamus just needed more informations, and 
that he is not solely to blame for the rift between him and Harry, 
and I must admit, that I am surprised that anyone thinks he is 
presented as downright wrong or even evil. From that point of view, 
Ernie Macmillan in CoS was also evil. Surely, from Harry's point of 
view Ernie's behaviour was annoying. But what Ernie knew was that 
Harry could speak Parseltongue, that he had an unhappy childhood 
because of the muggles (which was basically Tom Riddle's motive) and 
that everyone who annoyed Harry was a victim. Add to this that Justin 
is his best friend and that he was worried for him, and his behaviour 
becomes absolutely understandable. He also had the guts to apologize, 
something that Seamus as well. Or another example. Ron surely wasn't 
right to suspect Harry that he threw his name in the GoF. But does 
that mean that he was portrayed as evil, just because he didn't 
believe Harry? Surely not. And I see no difference between these 
scenes and Seamus' behaviour in book 5.  

The Marietta and Percy situation are more difficult. Basically, I 
think Marietta's betrayal was by far the worst out of the three, 
simply because of the consequences it could have had for all the DA 
members, including her best friend. But nonetheless I agree with you 
here, that the jinx punishment was too harsh, especially because it 
was still on Marietta's face at the end of the year. However, it is 
not true that Marietta or her reasons are totally dismissed. Cho 
defends her and explains the difficult situation in which Marietta 
was. I know that Cho is not the fandom's favourite character, but she 
is by no means evil, and I see no reason why we, the readers, should 
dismiss her defense of Marietta. Especially because Harry's counter 
arguement was really weak. Yes, Ron's father is also in the ministry, 
but he happens to be on Dumbledore's side, therefore Ron and his 
silblings wouldn't have to feat any punishment if they were part in 
an Anti-Ministry group, Marietta would. I still think Marietta is 
mostly to blame for what she did, especially because she knew that 
the group was harmless, but I also think that we are not supposed to 
see her as the world's biggest monster.

And Percy is not presented as unsympathetic because he doesn't 
believe Harry, but because he left his family and refused to speak 
with them. But again, JKR gave some reasons, for example the one you 
mentioned, that Arthur was not very fair too him. Of course he was 
shown in a very bad light in book 5, I don't deny it, but so was 
Snape in book 3. Percy's good side were regularly shown in the 
earlier books, where we saw more of him, and JKR obviously likes him 
enough to wish him a Happy Birthday on her website. Therefore I am 
convinced, that when all is said and done, Percy will be seen in a 
more sympathetic light, than he currently is.   

Hickengruendler