Dumbledore's Magnaminity

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 142937


> Bruce:
> Lady C. and Mrs. B. both violate the SPIRIT of good manners, but 
neither one (at
> least in this instance) violates the LETTER of the code.  This was 
the first
> example that came to mind; I'm sure if I had my books here I could 
find some
> better ones.  The point is that it is possible to not break--
although perhaps
> severely bend--the code in such a way that one can deliver a 
fairly stinging
> rebuke to the other party in such a way that she/he/they can't 
respond in kind
> without putting themselves even more in the wrong, which is 
exactly what DD
> does.  
> 

a_svirn:

I hope you will soon be reunited with your books, since your 
recollections of the events of Pride and Prejudice are somewhat at 
fault. Lady Cathrine behaves with the utmost rudeness at the 
Bennetts', while Mrs. Bennett's revolting toad-eating is exactly the 
kind of behaviour that has earned her unanimous contempt that even 
her daughters share. The only person who conforms the convention is 
Elisabeth, and she stands her ground very firmly and returns a heavy 
set-down to every "stinging rebuke" her ladyship comes up with. And 
it's Elisabeth who brings the visit to close, when she has enough of 
Lady Catharine's rudeness:

 ``You can now have nothing farther to say,'' she resentfully 
answered. ``You have insulted me in every possible method. I must 
beg to return to the house.''

And she rose as she spoke. Lady Catharine rose also, and they turned 
back. Her ladyship was highly incensed".


Also I must say that you are overlooking a few pertinent points in 
making this comparison. Lady Catharine comes at a quite reasonable 
hour, not calculated to cause the family any inconvenience. Unlike 
Dumbledore, who is not only totally unwelcome visitor, but also a 
complete stranger to the Dursleys', Lady Catharine is a welcome 
guest at the Bennett's household.  Unlike Dumbledore, she has a 
claim on their hospitality: after all, Elisabeth while staying in 
Kent enjoyed hers – such as it was. She is also a patroness of Mr. 
Bennett's cousin and heir. There is no reason in the world why she 
shouldn't come to visit the Bennetts while staying in the 
neighborhood. In fact, if it had been just a social call it would 
have been a very pretty gesture. The only similarity in her behavior 
with that of Dumbledore's is that she behaves rudely, ignores her 
hosts in favor of the only person she really wants to see and that 
she presumes to preach proprieties wile behaving improper herself. 

a_svirn