Choices: (was Re: re:sex/VanishingCabinet/SoulsEtc/Badger/Ch.2/ThinAir/Choices/Stag/deadHouseElves)

[lady.indigo at gmail.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 140002

 Aberforth's goat: 

> His true identity, his
> > soul, his platonic essence. And that person is, fundamentally, a
> > Gryffindor. He may not even have known it, but there's a white hat in
> > his soul and when it comes to a crisis, he'll wear it.


<snip> 

Jen Reese:

> If JKR's going with a *pure* Calvinist view, the actions of her 
> characters mean nothing as she's already pre-ordained their core 
> essence by age 11. Peter is a Gryffindor at heart and thus will be 
> revealed as a Gryffindor in the end. His failure of will and indirect 
> destruction of the Potter family means nothing because he is 
> predestined to be a white hat in the end. Draco lowering his wand and 
> Snape choosing to be on Dumbledore's side for even awhile (if he did 
> indeed choose that) mean nothing becuase both are fated to be revealed 
> as evil, along with most of the other Slytherins in the end. Harry is 
> revealed as a Gryffindor early on and continues to make the choice to 
> be brave-at-heart and good, like his mom, dad, & Dumbledore. Regulus 
> may have chosen to destroy the Horcrux in an act of bravery, but this 
> did not change his pre-destined course as a DE and evil at his core.
> 

Just hopping in here: I don't see how the omnipotence of the Sorting Hat and 
the arrangement of the houses says anything about a lack of free will, 
really. Gryffindors are brave and idealistic, Slytherins are ambitious and 
cunning, Ravenclaws are intelligent and perceptive - but I think the mistake 
a lot of people make (and that JKR makes sometimes in not showing enough 
balance) is that these traits may be inherent in a person but that doesn't 
define someone as good or evil. Ambition isn't necessarily a bad trait; it 
can actually keep people from becoming slothful, if they make the right 
choices. The bravery that comes from the willingness to die for a cause can 
be applied to the wrong causes and help it do some major damage. Rowling 
doesn't show a lot of good Slytherins (even the best of the bunch has 
engaged in theivery and shady business practices) but even she has gone on 
record saying that not all Slytherins do the things Draco does, and the 
house is required for balance. In short: you might be born with aspects of 
your personality, as per astrology, but you get to decide what direction 
these traits go to. Not predestined at all, I think.

- Lady Indigo


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