Harsh Morality - Combined answers

[delwynmarch]

No: HPFGUIDX 121231


Betsy wrote:
"Some of the *characters* may have their own harsh morality, but that
point of view is treated rather dimly by the author.  (See the tragedy
that is the House of Crouch.)"

Del replies:
I disagree. Even the Crouch example shows that there is Good and there
is Evil, and if you partake of Evil even for apparently good reasons,
then you're evil. The reason Crouch fell is because he used the tools
of Evil : he allowed the Aurors to use the Unforgivables during VWI,
he didn't let his son, a DE, pay for his crime, and he used an
Unforgivable on him. Crouch partook of Evil, and by doing so he became
evil too.
Inversely, when talking of DD, in PS/SS, McGonagall basically says
that one reason DD is Good is because he refuses to use Dark Magic.

Betsy wrote:
"The readers firmly behind the idea of a redeemed!Draco are legion."

Del replies:
Redeemed!Draco is a theory about the future, he's a possibility, so
he's irrelevant to the point I was making. What is relevant is the way
Draco is being described as being *now* (bad bad bad), and what kind
of judgment the author seems to pass on him (bad to the core - she
called him a bad boy or something like that, after all).

Betsy wrote:
" And do I really have to bring up Snape supporters?"

Del replies:
Snape is the only truly grey character IMO. But you'll notice that
when commentating on him, JKR systematically condemns his behaviour,
and she doesn't seem to understand that some readers should like him.
So I tend to think that this is a reverse "Ron is a good guy" case,
where the author has to explain her feelings about a character in
interviews because she didn't make it clear enough in her books.
You'll also notice that the *only* thing that redeems Snape is that he
works for DD. He's written as a completely black character with a
white lining, not as a truly grey character. Fudge is more what I
consider a grey character : not working for either DD or LV. And he's
very clearly condemned for this greyness, right from the end of GoF.

Betsy wrote: 
"If the characters were as black and white, if the Potterverse was as
 unforgiving, as you're saying it is, I don't think the books would be
 nearly as interesting.  Nor as mysterious."

Del replies:
First, there are many people who like black-and-white moralities,
especially among the children. Second, there are *many* interesting
things in HP apart from its morality.

Del