Does JKR want us to hate Draco? (was: Re: Admonishing Snape)

[hickengruendler]

No: HPFGUIDX 129621

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "horridporrid03" 
<horridporrid03 at y...> wrote:
 
> 
> Betsy:
> Okay, I'll bite. :)  How do we, the readers, *know* that JKR 
doesn't 
> like Draco?  

Hickengruendler:

She said so several times. If you want to read one example, it's on 
her webpage at the Edinburgh book reading. But there are several 
other quotes, where she stated that she is worried about how beloved 
Draco became, and she warned the mostly female readers, who adore 
him, not to go for the bad boy in real life, and that it took her way 
too long to find this out, herself.

 I'm honestly curious about this because Draco has such a 
> large fan base (and I'm talking adults here, not Tom Felton loving 
> teeny-boppers) and that can't have been formed in a vaccum.  I've 
> often seen those who like Draco or Snape or Slytherin House for 
that 
> matter speak of the unfairness of JKR and how close minded she is 
> when it comes to all those of House Slytherin.  But again, *how* 
can 
> they find such positive traits in that house or those characters 
> *unless* JKR put them there *herself*.

Hickengruendler:

I actually think these are three different things. Slytherin house 
itself isn't presented as totally negative. Regulus Black tried to 
leave the Death Eaters, Phineas Nigellus showed genuine shock after 
he heard about Sirius' death, and Snape, too, (as much as I am 
convinced, that he doesn't give a d*** about what his students learn, 
but only enjoys his power in the classroom), certainly has redeeming 
qualities (and I love him as a character), most notably that he risks 
his life in the fight for the good cause. (And JKR likes him enough 
to wish him a Happy Birthday on her website, even though she said 
that we shouldn't feel too sorry for him). Draco, not so much. People 
want him to be a new Snape, but IMHO opinion, he is not. The 
difference between him and Snape was already shown at the solution of 
the first two books, when both were wrongly suspected and proven 
innocent (Snape in book 1 and Draco in book 2). Draco, however, only 
was innocent because of a lack of opportunity, he was willing to help 
attacking the muggleborns. Snape, on the other hand, saved the Stone 
and Harry from Quirrell. He did some good deeds (no matter what his 
reasons might have been).

Therefore, while I agree that there is more than meets the eye to 
Slytherin house and especially to Snape, Draco is IMO exactly the 
despisable worm he seems to be.

> 
> Because when JKR *does* want you to hate a character, I mean really 
> despise someone, she doesn't seem to have a problem accomplishing 
her 
> goal.  Not many people defend Umbridge as horribly misunderstood.  
I 
> haven't found a website dedicated to the subtle courage of Minister 
> Fudge.  Vernon Dursley does not send hearts a flutter.  For that 
> matter, the WW's fear of trolls doesn't get the same chatter as 
their 
> contempt of house-elves.

Hickengruendler:

I think there are two differences. First, Draco is young. Umbridge 
and Uncle Vernon are beyond saving, all their prejudices are sitting 
much to deep. Draco, however, is at an age where he could still 
change. But I don't think one minute that he will.

Also, Draco is played by a supposed to be good looking boy in the 
movie, that must not be named. And nobody can convince me that this 
is not a reason for many fans to love Draco, because it totally is.
 
Also, Umbridge and Vernon portray the banality of evil. This is in 
some ways more repulsive than the Voldemort kind of evil. (And I have 
no doubt that Draco will fight for Voldemort in the upcoming war). In 
these books we expect that there are enemies, who fight for the other 
side, and that's why many of us are willing to accept them and there 
place in the storyline. (Bellatrix and Lucius have their fans, too, 
and I doubt anyone denies that they are totally evil). Umbridge and 
Vernon are more insufferable, because of their self-rightance.

Hickengruendler