Hermione the Vigilante?

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 149410

> >>Luna:
> I don't remember saying that Hermione was morally above other 
> characters or that Jo was placing her above other characters.
> <snip>
> In HP books, the children, who are the protagonists, seem to be    
> the ones with more moral backbone. So, Jo chose one of her        
> children characters to impart the punishments that she thought     
> they deserved in the degree she considered best. I don't see       
> Hermione's own agenda here.    
> You can agree with Jo or not, but that won't change the facts.

Betsy Hp:
I'm confused.  You seem to be contradicting yourself here.  First 
you're saying that Hermione is not more moral than other characters, 
and then you say that she has more "moral backbone".  I'm not sure 
what the difference is here?

Also, I'm not sure that Hermione is representing JKR when she 
blackmails Rita or hexes Marrietta.  Actually, I think it's hard to 
figure out exactly how JKR feels about the various decisions her 
characters make.  Sirius is a good example of her reticence, I 
think. 

[As an aside, I've never thought that when JKR says Hermione is a 
lot like her this means that Hermione is perfect in JKR's eyes.  JKR 
seems to use her to poke fun at herself at times, IMO.]
 
> >>Magpie:
> > <snip>
> > We never see the pimples gone, we never get 
> > anything that tells us they're fading, just different ways of 
> > telling us she's got something to hide on her face.
 
> >>Luna: 
> you might be right, but, honestly, I don't really worry too 
> much about it. This girls violated a magical contract, she got    
> what she deserved. Now, I do wish Jo would have a little heart and 
> make her marks go away, I agree that Marrietta should have learned 
> her lessons by now.

Betsy Hp:
Some folks feel that yes, you snitch you deserve to be permently 
disfigured.  Others don't.  That's what makes this an interesting 
ethical discussion.  However, again, I don't think anyone can say 
JKR is *happy* that Marrietta is still suffering.  JKR is certainly 
making it *clear* that Marrietta is still suffering, but all 
judgement calls are up to the reader.

The thing that worries me is that people like Rita and Marrietta 
might not be learning the lesson Hermione seems to want them to 
learn.  What they *could* be learning is that when Hermione gets 
taken down, she'll need to be taken down hard.  Without any mercy.  
Rita certainly seems to be preparing for the day.  And Hermione is 
not as clever as she thinks she is.

> >>Magpie:
> > But these books are about ethical issues, among other things. 

> >>Luna:
> Ethical issues, I agree. But obviously, to Jo it is not ethical to 
> play blindly by the rules instead of having the courage of doing 
> what you know it is the right thing to do at the moment.
> <snip>
> Sometimes we all face situations of adversity where we all need to 
> be manipulative in order to save or protect someone we care about 
> or for the greatest good. Extreme situations call for extreme      
> actions. 

Betsy Hp:
Here's the interesting thing.  Marietta broke a contract.  She 
didn't "blindly" follow Hermione's secret rules.  So, what does JKR 
have to say about that?  When should one follow the rules?  When 
should one break the rules?  When should one be manipulative?  How 
much control should someone seek to have over another person's life?

> >>Luna:
> <snip>
> Hermione happens to be a human being (at least in the books) who 
> can have feelings and, as many people do, can't help to act on    
> them.
> Hermione is learning, she's growing up and eventually she'll get 
> there. But, honestly, I don't see Hermione's actions as crimes for 
> which she deserves to be punished.

Betsy Hp:
Hmm, I don't think Magpie was saying she expects Hermione to 
be "punished".  For myself, I don't see these books as a complicated 
calculation of karmic vengence to be visited upon all those 
characters who've done wrong.  So I'm not seeing Hermione as 
deserving to be punished.  I *do* think she's playing dangerous 
games and that she's not fully aware of how dangerous they are.  I 
think she's forming far more enemies than she's aware of, and I 
don't think she's fully considered that fact.

As part of her growing experience I think she needs to realize that 
she doesn't know everything.  I *hope* she can learn that as 
painlessly as possible.  But I am a bit worried for her.

Betsy Hp