The good Slytherin (Draco Malfoy)

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 131539

Lupinlore wrote:
>>I think the "Harry's viewpoint" argument is deployed a lot more
often than it should be. <snip> I suspect that Harry is her eyes. I 
think often his perceptions are JKR's perceptions. When it comes to
Slytherin house, I think a lot of Harry's basic perceptions are
Rowling's basic perceptions. That is, much as many readers would
like it to be otherwise, she really does find the values and
characteristics of Slytherin house problematic and mostly
objectionable, and she really does have a mostly disapproving
attitude toward people who evince those values and characteristics.
<snip>
But I doubt very much, despite the wishes of many readers,
we will see an argument for the value of craftiness or ambition. I
just don't sense that JKR has a great deal of respect for those
traits.<<


SSSusan:
This is going to be start out perilously close to a forbidden "Me, 
too" post, but I'll attempt to redeem myself as I move along. I just 
thought this deserved comment.  In the end, what we want, hope or 
expect from JKR isn't going to make a difference, is it, to what we 
actually GET?  There IS tremendous concern in the fandom – 
particularly amongst the adults – over all kinds of issues 
surrounding Slytherin House.  HOW can JKR be stereotyping this way?  
HOW can she be "condemning" 11-year-olds to being classed as evil 
when they're too young to really know who and what they and life are 
all about?  She will "have" to show us some "good" Slytherins before 
she's through.  Etc., etc.

Now, am I one who'd like to see a lot of Slytherins stand up and be 
counted against Voldy & the DEs?  I sure am.  Am I convinced JKR 
*will* give us this?  Not fully, no.  And while I won't be surprised 
if JKR uses the student prejudice against Slytherins as a whole to 
make A Point with her readers, I'm definitely not convinced JKR will 
give us a whole new TAKE on Slytherin House.  In fact, I think 
Lupinlore is really likely to be proven correct on this issue – that 
JKR may well NOT particularly value the Slytherin characteristics of 
craftiness and ambition, particularly ambition of the "whatever it 
takes/watch out for yourself" variety.  


Lupinlore continued with what he suspects is coming:
>>Thus, in the case of the "Good Slytherin," I think this will be
someone who doesn't fit the Slytherin mold all that well. I doubt
we will see this as someone who makes Harry realize that he has
judged the values of Slytherin house unfairly, but rather someone
who makes Harry realize good people can survive even in a hostile
environment. The Good Slytherin will have some Slytherin
characteristics -- probably that of coming from an old pureblood
house. But I doubt very much, despite the wishes of many readers,
we will see an argument for the value of craftiness or ambition. I
just don't sense that JKR has a great deal of respect for those
traits.
<snipped from earlier in the post:>
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.
<snip>
It is true that people do change -- but changes have to have some 
seed or foundation on which to build.  What have we seen in this 
child that is evidence he can grow into a good man -- even one of 
such extraordinarily problematic goodness as Snape? Not much. He 
loves his parents -- which is a good trait. But that isn't much to 
work with.<<


SSSusan:
(Ooooh, love that phrase for Snape:  "extraordinarily problematic 
goodness."  That captures it for me.)

Again, I think LL is correct.  I've never quite been able to grasp 
(in spite of valiant efforts by Betsy hp) where people *see* the 
evidence for the likelihood of redeemed!Draco, *especially* since the 
different-in-tone and much-more-ominous-sounding threat against Harry 
we got from Draco at the end of 5th year.  I think a change has 
*already* happened in him – he's angry and he wants revenge and it's 
moved beyond schoolboy bullying & games... or so it read to me.  And 
to me this also makes Draco's likelihood for "The Good Slytherin" 
much less than others.


Lupinlore asked:
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.

SSSusan:
Yup, I think so, too.  I suppose the problem (if one wants to 
classify it that way) is that of these three, only Snape is a 
Slytherin... and so many really want this change to happen with a 
*Slytherin.*  My preference is also for that, whether it's Goyle, 
Knott, Zabini, or whomever... I just don't think Draco is very likely 
to fit the bill... and I won't be shocked if it's not a Slytherin JKR 
chooses.  Might be, might not be. 

Siriusly Snapey Susan