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

[festuco]

No: HPFGUIDX 129630

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "nrenka" <nrenka at y...> wrote:

> Massive projection.  Most all Draco defenses (and I include our 
> arguments in this) involve going "Oh, that action wasn't that 
> bad...", "He was just following Lucius' lead", "His motivation
isn't 
> really what he said it was", "He was actually trying to help in the 
> only way he knew", "He's just an ignorant kid", etc.

Gerry

I totally agree. I want to add that it is not only Tom Felton who is a
pretty boy, Draco in the books also is quite good looking. Contrary to
Dudley, Crabby or Goyle, who never get excuses for behaving like the
moronic baddies they are. When you are handsome, you just cannot be
evil. Especially not when you are just a kid. I think a lot of people
have problems believing a nice looking boy, who is also fairly
intelligent can really be bad. Not only being raised that way, but
actively embracing the values he inherited. 

When you are boring Persey Weasley who did nothing else than stick by
the rules, ofcourse this must mean you are a budding Death Eater. But
if your daddy is a rotten piece of slime, and you manage perfectly to
be just as rotten on your own, away from his influence, you are simply
misguided and will see the light eventually. 

Some time ago there was a discussion about Draco and Buckbeak. And I
can only say Draco is responsible for Buckbeak's verdict. P. 206
Bloomsbury hardcover edition, some quotes:
'... should have an owl from Father any time now. He had to go to the
hearing to tell them about my arm ... about how I couldn't use it for
three months...'
'I really wish I could ear that grat hairy moron trying to defend
himself... 'There's no 'arm in 'im, 'onest -' ... that Hippogriff's as
good as dead -'. 

'We were just discussing your friend Hagrid,' Malfoy said to Ron.
"just trying to imagine what he's saying to the Committee for the
Disposal of Dangerous Creatures. D'you think he'll cry when they cut
off his Hippogriff's-.

Later in the book we see how much Draco enjoys the death-verdict and
Hagrid's pain. 

Draco was faking his injury, he let his dad bully the committee and
sat back and enjoyed the show. I cannot imagine how anybody can find
anything redeeming here. 

Gerry