Harsh Morality - Combined answers

[M.Clifford]

No: HPFGUIDX 121114


> Valky wrote:
> "Percy had been behaving like a jerk for years, especially in his  
> holier than thou attitude towards his family."
> 
> Del replies:
> Hey, this is a *perfect* example of what I'm trying to explain.
> 
> Simply put : Percy had IMO *not* been behaving like a jerk, that's
> only the *impression* we get of him because he annoys Harry and 
Ron.
>

Valky:
Well, no actually, I mostly got the impression of Percy acting like 
a jerk from the things *he* said with a bit of reinforcement from 
what not only Ron but also Fred and George had to say in commentary. 
Especially in GOF and POA, which I don't have here, _sigh_ , so I 
can't offer quotes. 
IIRC in POA Fred or George say something to the effect of how 
insufferable Percy has been since he recieved his Head Boy badge and 
early in GoF we see a hint of Percy beginning to show condescension 
toward his family. I wish I had the quotes. 
The funny thing is that we are lead away from thought of judging 
Percy at this time, not towards it. Molly brushes of the subtle 
insults, proposing excuse after excuse for Percy's behaviour. The 
narration doesn't allow us to dwell long on Percy being a jerk to 
his family, and this is necessary to set up the "surprise" defection 
of Percy in OOtP. 


> Valky wrote:
> "When "Seamus Finnigan and the Injustices of 1995" is published I 
am sure that the tables will turn and the onesidedness of it all 
will lean the other way. ;P"
> 
> Del replies:
> That's the problem : the one-sidedness. Where there's one-
sidedness, there's unfair judgment. 

Valky:
Well I don't know that I'd put it that way. 
To me, where theres one-sideness in a HP novel theres a hidden twist 
waiting around the corner to pounce. JKR's ability to misdirect the 
reader, even the adults, and surprise them so well, it's all part 
and parcel of that. I would hate for her to throw that away, for 
anything.