The "choosing evil" difference (was: Snape and Raistlin Majere)

[nrenka]

No: HPFGUIDX 126549


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "pippin_999" <foxmoth at q...> 
wrote:
>
> Pippin:
> Benign? No, but I don't really understand the view of those who 
> think the kids are being traumatized for life. To me it's like 
> thinking that Charlie Brown ought to have brain damage from all 
> the times he's fallen on his head after Lucy jerked the football 
> away from him. Lucy's not benign, but it would be silly to treat 
> her bullying as attempted murder just because it's so graphically 
> depicted.

So we end up with the problem of how seriously we are supposed to 
read such things in the Potterverse.  For instance, there are those 
who argue that the Twins shoving Montague into the cabinet was a 
malicious action resulting in the inexcusable permanent damage to a 
fellow student, and those who see it as comedy.

There's a way out, but it's uncomfortable.  It involves judging 
people by intentions, and when it comes to teachers, *absolutely no 
regular teacher* (discounting Umbridge, and last-minute Lockhart) has 
shown the kind of sustained malice towards his students as Snape 
does.  You might argue that it's not really malice, it's just 
frustration, etc.  Fine.  I raise against your speculation my 
speculation that it is indeed, supported as a heuristic by the 
authorial imprimitur of "sadistic teacher who abuses his power".  
Even if Neville is, circa OotP, not a snivelling wreck, it's due to 
the grace of his own character and that of his friends, not the 
consistent moral cruelty he's received from Snape.

"What is moral cruelty? It is not just a matter of hurting someone's 
feelings. It is deliberate and persistent humiliation, so that the 
victim can eventually trust neither himself nor anyone else."

Of course, we're in a wait-and-see pattern--but I would bet you all 
right now that we end up getting something like that confirmed for 
the character.

-Nora sits and enjoys the afterburn of the sake