Evil Hermione

[Renee]

No: HPFGUIDX 154887

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "lanval1015" <lanval1015 at ...> wrote:


> Lanval:
> to say that Marietta MUST have been raised in the firm belief 
> that the ministry can do no wrong, that she really had no free will 
> in this matter, strikes me as nothing but speculation. 
 
Renee:
Sorry to snip so much of this post; I agree with about everything you
said there and just wanted to add a few things.

One of the messages of the HP books is that it's our choices that show
what we are, alternatively, define what we are (JKR has said both, by
mouth of Dumbledore and in interviews). To suggest that some people
have no choice because of the way they're raised - brought up as
mitigating circumstances for Marietta and much more often, Draco -
runs counter to this message. We've got plenty of examples to the
contrary, but I'll only mention Sirius. To say Marietta had no free
will isn't just speculation. IMO, it's an idea that doesn't belong in
the Harry Potter series. 

Secondly, has it occurred to anyone else that the whole Marietta vs.
the DA episode may be meant to mirror Wormtail vs. the first Order of
the Phoenix, with Umbridge in the role of Voldemort? Marietta is
afraid that Umbridge will prevail, with (relatively) dire consequences
for all members of the DA including herself - just like Wormtail was
afraid Voldemort was going to win with dire consequences to all Order
members including himself. Both operate according to the rule: if you
can't beat them, join them. If I consider Marietta's treason the
lesser of the two, it's because in her case no lives were at stake, or
not directly - just futures.

Renee