The good Slytherin (Draco Malfoy)

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 131538

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "lupinlore" <bob.oliver at c...> wrote:
> ... I agree that having Draco continue in his present mode would be 
> less intriguing -- i.e. less dramatic.  However, it might also be 
> more realistic and a better literary device.
> 
> ...edited...
> 
> Why should Draco "think everything through?"  Most people rarely 
> think anything basic through thoroughly -- and I include myself in 
> that. ... But in my experience it is much more common for people 
> to cling even tighter to their basic beliefs in time of crisis.
> 
> ...edited...
> 
> What would be the purpose of changing Draco?  It would show no one 
> is born evil, which would be an effective message.  It would show 
> the value of redemption.  But JKR already has several characters 
> that may serve that purpose, including Percy, Snape, and Pettigrew.
> 
> What would be the literary value of Draco not changing?  It would 
> provide a needed example of what happens when someone doesn't 
> question and isn't redeemed.  Redemption has no meaning except when 
> compared with the opposite.  ...
> 
> It would be tragic, in a sense.  But it would also illustrate the 
> real fact that you can't save everyone, and that people often tread 
> a very easy path to damnation.  
> 
> Lupinlore

bboyminn:

First, I think Draco must change, although I can see him going either
way. In the end, he may be so full of spite and hate that he will be
on the road to becoming the next 'evil overlord'. But the personal
foundation of my belief that most strongly supports 'Redeemed Draco'
is rooted in Draco finally having to face what it truly means to be a
Death Eater and a Voldemort supporter. 

Right now Draco echoes his father's sentiments and engages in a very
childish and transparent game of schoolyard bullying. Further I think
Draco has a very idealized somewhat romantic vision of what being a
Death Eater means. In his mind, he sees his father and to some extent,
his father's friends getting chummy with Voldie. All of them sitting
around talking tough, quaffing ale, and bragging about how superior
they are. But he has yet to face the harsh cold merciless reality of
the torture and murder of innocent people. Dealing with that in the
abstract is easy, but when you have to be there and hear the screams
and see the pain, and perhaps even be the one who causes those things,
suddenly, it's not quite so romantic and idealized.

Further, I think in his romantic notion of life under Voldemort, Draco
sees himself, his father, and Voldemort standing on a high balcony
while the wizard world below bows down to them. The ultimate symbol of
power, superiority, and authority. The key is that he sees himself and
his father standing side by side with Voldemort as an equal. He has
yet to face the reality of having to bow, crawl on his hands and knees
acting deeply reverent and servile, and kissing Voldies scaly butt
...er... make that the hem of his robe.

It's in these harsh, cold, and terrible realities that the
oh-so-not-brave Draco will have to make his choice. Up until now, it's
been a schoolyard game of no consequence, but being a Death Eater is
far from fun and games, and has severe consequences.

As far as the possibility of Draco not changing, of him not ever
having to face /hard/ decisions, I really don't see that happening. At
the end of the last book, we already see things becoming more
polarized. Harry is not longer taking a 'leave me alone Draco'
attitude. Now it more a 'get in my face and you'll pay a price Draco'
attitude. Draco also seems to have taken a step beyond schoolyard
bullying, now it is very deep and personal. It seems reasonable that
the polarization, the shifting of people to the extremes, will extend
to the entire wizard world. In times of deep, difficult, and dangerous
crisis like this, there isn't much room to stay safely on the middle
ground. 

So, my point is that I think it is inevitable for Draco to change.
Either he will be completely sucked into the Death Eater mentality, if
not the actual organization, and be on his way to becoming Voldie-II,
or he will suddenly be faced with the dark and nasty realities of
beind a Death Eater and realize he doesn't have the stomach for it.

But I say once again, with emphasis, that even if Draco rejects the
Death Eaters, he will not suddenly become buddy-buddy with Harry. He
might become 'not bad' but that doesn't be he will be good, and it
certainly doesn't mean he will suddenly become nice. 

There is a part of me that is leaning toward 'Redeemed Draco', but
other than a distinct lack of courage and real-world experience, we
haven't seen much to support it. Perhaps, I'VE just been reading too
much Harry/Draco slash.

Just a few thoughts.

Steve/bboyminn