Draco and Slytherin House (was: Harsh Morality - Combined answers)

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 121282


Nora:

Draco's function in the series so far is to be an antagonist, but 
more importantly, to be a poster child for what the child of a DE 
thinks like.

Alla:

Yes, yes, but I always a bit sad when a character's only function is 
to be a plot device.
I guess you can say that you really need character like that to be 
protagonist, but I don't know .., it is just so 2-D.


Nora:

snip.

  No Draco, no 'Mudblood' scene in CoS, which is where 
(at least I did) you go 'woah' as the world suddenly takes a 
different spin--although that was, of course, set up by Draco from 
the very beginning, with the "some wizarding families are better 
than others", etc.  Draco leads a claque within Slytherin House (per 
the inclusion of his cronies in the Inquisitorial Squad), and it 
seems to be dominant.  Draco has shown no clearly demonstrable 
tendencies to change his thinking or his ideals in five books.  The 
arguments for his sympathy are fairly tendentious, IMO.
What seems eminently more possible is the emergence of Slytherins 
who had nothing to do with the IS, and are independent of Draco's 
claque.  (The ever-enigmatic Mr. Zabini, who we have been told we 
will see more of.)  Finally given an opening by Draco's fall from 
social standing (thanks to Daddy being in the slammer), they can 
finally get the backbone to come out and say "They've done you all 
wrong, but we're not like that".  And yes, I do think it will take a 
public statement, because there are times you have to suck it up and 
say things like that out loud.  This also involves a repudiation of 
the blood standard of Slytherin House, hence my idea that Slytherin 
House will have to disavow its foundational idea to join the others.
 See?   House Unity, and Draco is off in the corner plotting 
revenge.  Now, it could be him--but I'll bet anyone that it's not.


Alla:

Oh, absolutely. I see no signs of Draco changing his views 
whatsoever, not a slightest hint. What I see is Draco eagerly 
adopting his father's views AND using them when smallest possibility 
(namely Hermione arises)

I loved that scene in CoS and Ron's articulate response, which to me 
shows that even twelve year old can have pretty good grasp of 
ideology ( to his age, of course) :o).

Just as many, I long for good Slytherin to appear or for good 
Slytherins, which will be even better, but I am in complete agreement 
with you - it won't be Draco. :o)

Would love to be wrong on this one, but will consider it a sloppy 
writing at the same time, since don't see any hints about Draco's 
redemption.

And yep, I don't see the possibility of Slytherin House' continuous 
existence at the end without them doing away with tehir blood-
superiority ideology.

Just as I think we are due for radical change of whole WW ideology, 
actually. :o)

Just my opinion,

Alla