Debatable ethical issues in OotP and HBP

[Miles]

No: HPFGUIDX 143322

lucianam73 wrote:
> I can understand I'm a minority in this, but I do have a problem
> with the new Harry and Dumbledore. Why so eager to battle, why so
> ready to drop limits? It seems, at least to me, a lot different from
> the ethical messages the earlier books delivered.

Maybe Rowling is building up this for the effect of destroying it? I agree
that there ist a shift in the ethical messages in HBP, but it's difficult to
judge it before the 7th book. But - we still have the message "love is what
matters", we still have the message "Harry should not use unforgivible
curses".

Harry Potter is still for young readers, and therefore Rowlings ethical
development may have some educational aspects.
Young people (and not only them) tend to be radical concerning the
antagonism ethics of conscience vs. ethics of responsibility I mentioned
earlier. Fake!Moody being evil because of his Avada Kedavra at the spider,
or wanting Harry to slaughter all Deatheaters, Snape and Voldemort in the
final showdown with a big bang.

I do expect Rowling bringing up the message of balancing in between - she
did it before. But as she has to use Harry as the bearer of message, to find
this balance cannot be the result of ethical studies or education .he has to
understand for himself. What we now see ist, that he builds up hatred and
the urge for revenge. This should continue during book 7, I expect more
losses for Harry. But in the end - Rowling told us - love will matter. And
Christian message will matter - IMHO forgiveness, but it's note more than a
guess.

To get the act together will be difficult for Rowling, if my assumption of
building up the urge for violence in Harry to transform it in the end is
what she wants to do. And she could fail - authors more talented failed in
transporting their ethical messages. But - we will have to wait for the last
act.

Miles