More-More Thoughts about Draco

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 129716

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "festuco" <vuurdame at x> wrote:
> Steve
> > JKR, in my view, has not painted Draco as evil, but she has 
> > painted him very much with the potential for evil. ... Draco 
> > standing on at a precipice, ... Draco has been mean and nasty, 
> > but I still say it has all been in 'schoolboy' catagory. 
> 
> Gerry
> Nasty absolutely. Schoolboy category? I don't agree. Could you
> explain to me why you see the Buckbeak incident as a schoolboy 
> thing? 
> 

bboyminn:

First, Draco has been indoctrinated his whole life to believe in
inferior and superior beings. To him, Buckbeak is not a superior
being, he is a beast. He is no different than a cow, pig, horse, or
dog, and our society kills these animals all the time. If his actions
had been against a fully sentient being like a Centaur, then I would
agree with you. So, his effort against Buckbeak are not evil, the are
mean and nasty, but not evil. Beside, Buckbeak will not be killed by
Draco hand, not directly. Buckbeak will be killed by rule of law and a
duly appointed executioner. 
 
> Steve
> > ... JKR ... has refrained from allowing Draco to act with truly
> > evil intent.

> Gerry
> But she has not refrained him from having true evil intent. In CoS
> he had intent but not the means, with Buckbeak it was his 
> deliberately lying and not acting which almost caused a death. He 
> made is choices here.
> 
> I'm really interested how you see this. 
> 

bboyminn:

Notice that not only weren't Harry, Ron, and Hermione called to give
testimony whether oral or written, neither was Draco. It was Draco's
father that appeared at the hearing and spoke on Draco's behalf.
Certainly, it was Lucius who took the opportunity to act against
Dumbledore and Hagrid more than anything that sets this all into motion. 

Now, I don't deny that Draco took a great glee in the whole process,
but since he was removed from it, he was more of a bystander, and
could easily absolve himself of responsibility by leaving everything
to his father and to the court.

I'm not saying I absolve him, just that the process allowed him to
absolve himself in the sense that in his own mind he could claim a
clear conscience.

Again, as horrible as it was, I personally don't think the Buckbeak
incident crossed the line into evil, but it very much showed the
future potential for true evil.


> >Steve
> > I think the general flow of the story could allow Draco one truly 
> > dispicable act, and still have room for redemption. But ... Draco 
> > will fall over the edge and commit an act so terrible that he can 
> > never pull back from it, ...
> 
> Gerry
> I don't believe in irredeemable evil. I do believe that some persons
> will never be able to redeem themselves because of their character,
> but I truly don't believe in irredeemable evil actions. 
> 

bboyminn:

On this we agree, the potential for redemption is always there but
frequently the likelihood is completely gone.

When Tom Riddle murdered his parents, he made a life choice, he
defined himself in a away that crossed a line that I'm sure we can
safely say he will never cross back over. Given his total lack of
regret, and that he doesn't seem remotely sorry for his action. Nor
does he display any indication that he has intent or capacity to be
sorry for that action. So, I can safely say that Voldemort will never
be redeemed even while acknowledging that the theoretical potential
for redemption still exists. 

Draco is still in a postion to be able to understand the dark nature
of his actions, to regret them, and to choose a new path in life. But,
much like Tom Riddle, there is a line that he will likely cross beyond
which he will never find his way back. 

Many people are capable of redemption, but very few who cross the line
into gleefull and enthusiastic evil ever come back. Mostly because
they are quite deranged and irrational.

In my statement, I did allow room for Draco's redemption. I allowed
that it's still possible for him to commit one semi-evil act and in
that act to truly realize the horror of what he has done. From there
he can come back. But there is a level of truly dark, heartless and
evil action beyond which he can but never will return.

Further, people have the idea that if Draco is redeemed, he will
suddenly be skipping through the flowers singing 'Spoonfull of Sugar'
from 'Mary Poppins'. No... No... Much like Snape, if and when Draco
becomes good, that doesn't in any way mean he will become nice. 

Just thinking out loud.

Steve/bboyminn