Random Thoughts on Draco

[moondance241]

No: HPFGUIDX 125432



--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Steve" <bboyminn at y...> wrote:
> 
> Several long Draco and Draco related discussions going on right 
now. I
> don't have specific comments to any individual, so I will just make 
a
> few random notes about Draco in general.
> 
Moondance:  Random, though really very quite thought out, organized, 
and clear!

 <big snip>

> Steve:
> I've said before that I think subconsciously Draco viewed himself as
> the /crown prince/ of the wizard world. He expected to be the focus 
of all eyes and the center of attention at Hogwarts; admired and 
feared by all, but bested by no one.
> 

Moondance:
I think this statement is an excellent illustration of how Draco 
perceives himself within the walls of Hogwarts.  He has had Lucius as 
an example of how to interact with others.  Though he still has a lot 
to learn (see Steve below), he does expect the respect and 
preferential treatment he sees his father receiving.

<snip>
Steve:
> At their first meeting in Madame Malkin's Robe shop, Draco
> demonstrates his self-important formal privileged old-money
> aristocratic values. This may have been something that others would
> have recognised and been drawn too. But Harry, having lived with the
> overindulged or over-privileged Dudley, was turned off by it.

Moondance:
Harry isn't one to recklessly judge others and express these 
opinions, especially in front of strangers.  So to see Draco do this 
gives Harry his first impression (negative) of Draco.  Though these 
impressions and Draco's importance are temporarily lost on Harry in 
his attempt to understand what Draco's talking about Slytherin,etc.), 
they come flooding back to him later.  

<snip>

Steve:
> Sadly, while Draco is adept at enjoying wealth, status, and 
privilege,he is not very good at playing the game. His father, 
Lucius, however  is an expert a playing the game of power and 
privilege. Perhaps, he should have given Draco a few more lessons.
> 
> So, when Draco re-meets Harry on the train, he tries his best at
> playing the power and status game as he understands it. His approach
> is that /He/ is someone special, and that /He/ can help Harry form 
the proper strategic alliances, and that /He/ can save Harry from the
> horrible mistake of associating with /commoners/. Draco is offerring
> to be Harry guide through the world of power and privilege, but 
fails
> to understand the austere and underprivileged life that Harry has
> lead, never having been underprivileged himself.
> 


> In Ron, Harry has found a treasure, independant of his money in
> Gringott's, Harry has found the first thing of true value in his 
life; an honest and open friend. His frist friend ever, the first 
person  who care about him, the first person who was interested in 
him. 
> 
> Harry on the other hand knows very well how to play the oppressed 
and underprivileged game. He knows that politeness and courtesy can 
act a protection from the potentially hostile people of the world. 
Without question, if all Draco had wanted to do was introduce himself 
and make a favorable impression, Harry would have, without 
hesitation, shaken Draco's hand just out of politeness and courtesy; 
a simple guarded attempt to avoid conflict.
> 
> But Draco isn't content to build himself up, he has to tear Ron down
> in the process. He, in essense, says that not only am I better that
> other people and can be an asset to you, something Harry could deal
> with, but other people are filth that are beneath you. Again, Draco
> has made the mistake of reminding Harry very much of Dudley, Dudley 
is
> not satisfied with being indulged and elevated in status, but 
someone
> who must, on top of that, tear down and oppress other people. It's 
one
> thing to elevate yourself in life, it's quite another to do it by
> pushing other people down.
> 
> So, out of common defensive politeness, Harry would have shaken
> Draco's hand. But when Draco crossed the line and insulted Ron,
> Harry's first ever friend, there was no hope that Harry would ever
> accept that. 
> 
> So, in a sense, not shaking Draco's hand was not something Harry did
> against Draco, but something he did in support of Ron. If Draco had
> left Ron out of it, he would have gotten his handshake.


Moondance:
I couldn't agree with this analysis more.  I don't think Draco is 
even capable of having "friends" in the standard definition of the 
word.   He has associations, relationships, partnerships, etc. that 
only work to his benefit.

Thanks for these interesting random thoughts.
Moondance