Vicarious Retribution (long)

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 128888

>>Ginger:
<snip> 
>Time and time again, listees have expressed concern about fairness 
in certain scenes.  I am going to refer specificly to Snape in the 
Pensieve, Dudley's tail, and Ferret!Draco.<
<snip>
>People have wondered if we are supposed to cheer simply because one 
character is "good" and the other "bad" or if this is a case of JKR 
showing the grey in human nature, as opposed to black and white.
>I propose that JKR is using a literary sense of "cosmic justice" 
for lack of a better word (or phrase).  "Vengance is mine", saith 
JKR, so to speak.  Harry can not avenge himself for the sufferings 
he has received at that hands of Dudley, Draco and Snape, so JKR 
does it for him.  Perhaps she doesn't want him to sink to their 
level, but still wants these three to pay for what they have done to 
Harry.<
<snip>

Betsy:
I'm going to have to disagree with this theory for a couple of 
reasons.  First, it strikes me as fairly sloppy story telling.  The 
bad guys get their's but not at the hands of the hero and without a 
clear line of retribution?  I just can't see JKR, who has already 
proven herself well able to handle heavy plotlines, throwing in such 
an unnecessary and esoteric complication.  I think we should also 
keep in mind that this is a children's series: justice will, more 
than likely, be obviously served.

Second, who says Harry hasn't "sunk to the bad guys' level" at times 
or at least delt out some righteous retribution of his own?  How 
many times has Harry and others stomped Draco?  Harry and friends 
have left Draco covered in hexes in at least two books, and Harry 
beat the crap out of him (with George's help) in one.  I think Harry 
has done a fine job of handing Draco some retribution all on his own 
without authorial help.

I think Harry has served retribution on Dudley as well, though not 
as dramatically as with Draco.  From CoS on Harry has been 
threatening Dudley with magic, and Dudley has been terrified of him. 
(I actually think Dudley was quite brave when he punched Harry in 
OotP.) The worm definitely turned in this case.

Snape has been publically humiliated because of actions Harry took 
(PoA), and privately humiliated when Harry saw his worst memory 
(OotP).  Again, Harry has managed to get some revenge, especially as 
a schoolboy taking on a schoolteacher.

I would also question the idea that JKR sees the scenes mentioned as 
proper justice.  An easy and telling test, in my opinion, is to 
imagine how Dumbledore would have reacted to those scenes.  Keep in 
mind that two involved a child being attacked by an adult.  And 
remember this scene from OotP (scholastic ed p. 616):

"Professor Umbridge seized Marietta, pulled her around to face her, 
and began shaking her very hard.  A split second later Dumbledore 
was on his feet, his wand raised.  Kingsley started forward and 
Umbridge leapt back from Marietta, waving her hands in the air as 
though they had been burned.
" 'I cannot allow you to manhandle my students, Dolores,' said 
Dumbledore, and for the first time, he looked angry."

I don't think I'm going too far out on a limb to say that Dumbledore 
would not have approved of any of the proffered scenes.  And if 
Dumbledore wouldn't approve, I dare say JKR would not approve 
either.  No, I'm pretty sure that any evil doers will suffer a 
fairly clearcut form of justice, possibly even a poetic one 
(Umbridge?), but not, I think, a vicarious one.  

Betsy, whose first attempt at a response was apparently eaten by 
Yahoo!mort