muggle baiting vs. muggle torture

[juli17 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 155372

 
Betsy wrote:

The only  reason I've not given up on the books yet is that the fat 
lady hasn't  sung.  There's still a chance that vengeance and doling 
out of karmic  justice is *not* the actual theme of the books.  Harry 
may actually  figure out that there *are* basic rules that should 
*not* be broken.   That blind loyalty is not always a good thing.  
That Arthur was right  and the twins were wrong.  That Hermione needs 
to treat other people  as, well, people and not little puppets in her 
great machine.  That  no matter how much they annoy you, the strong 
should *never* beat up the  weak.

Betsy Hp (trying to remember why she liked these books in the  first 
place)


 
Julie:
Because of Dumbledore, of course! He's the moral center of the books,
JKR's epitome of goodness. If there is one thing Dumbledore does not
stand for in any way, it's vengeance. He will accept justice in  the form
of punishment when necessary, but he prefers to give second chances
when possible (even if it comes back to bite him). Dumbledore stands
for tolerance, kindness, mercy, and forgiveness, traits clearly lacking  in
too many wizards on *both* sides (though I suppose those traits would 
always be lacking on the bad side!). 
 
And Dumbledore is Harry's mentor, his role model. Right now Harry is
Dumbledore's Man in words, not always in action, but he's still  growing.
I believe by the end of Book 7 Harry will prove to be  Dumbledore's Man
in philosophy and deeds also. After all, the books are about good  versus
evil, not about karmic justice, IMO, and Dumbledore stands for goodness 
by JKR's own words, so who else would she have her hero emulate in  the
end?
 
Julie 
 


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