[HPforGrownups] Re: No Sympathy for Draco

[J]

No: HPFGUIDX 161269

Kenneth:
> Why so much sympathy for this heel? Never mind the adolescent namecalling (Mudblood etc). Here is a guy who sends a deadly poison  into the school with the intention of murdering someone, a guy who  makes sure a girl gets a deadly necklace hoping that someone will touch  it and get killed and who is willing to use unforgivable curses against  other kids. Oh, and he is trying to ensure murderous death eaters get  into the school so they can wreak mayhem. 
> In any other UK at his age he would be held "At Her Majesties Pleasure"  for a term not less that 25 years. In many places he would already be  hanging from a rope or simmering gently in his chair. He should be put  down as soon as possible.

Magpie:
I'm not sure what kind of response you're looking for. I mean, I 
think we all know what happened in the book. You either feel sorry 
for the character or you don't. Personally, while I found Draco's 
story compelling I can't say that the main thing I felt was 
sympathy. <snip>
So I think JKR came up with a great story for the character which I 
don't think depends on feeling sympathy but feeling empathy, which 
is sometimes more important [...] <sninp>
in response to this is just to say: because without 
sympathy there's no story there. Draco's starting out the way he 
does, then facing some hard truths about his true character and the 
true character of the people he's joining, is I think something 
that's going to ultimately be good for the good side--and for 
himself. <snip>

+===========+=============+

Jeremiah

The way I see it Draco's character is in a situation where he has been raised to believe the things Death Eaters (i.e. his Papa) have taught him. He has grow up thinking "mudblood" and the act of calling someone a mudblood is cool. He has been living a life where these subversive, hateful things (like Muggle-baiting and the events at the Quiddich World Cup) seem like fun and excitement.

Bt now he has joined Voldemort and the theoretical fun and games he enjoyed in his youth become far too real. He actually has to kill someone. He has to commit a crime that will fracture his sould fo eternity and end someonelse's life or have his family killed. On the train to Hogwarts in HBP he seems non-chalant and very easy-going about it all but as the task draws nearer we see a boy who is filled with self-doubt, panic and true fear. Horrifying fear for his life, his father's life and the safety of his mother. 

Draco's attempts are desperate (as Dumbledore pointed out) and even though he let Death Eater into Hogwarts (truely repugnant) but when held to his task he wavers and ultimately fails. He cannot do what was asked of him and all his balking and trash-talking leaves him an empty shell of ignorance and childish pompery.

That's why I would say, "Poor Draco." What will happen to his ideology? Will he change sides? will he finally kill someone and live up to the bigotry of his family? Or will he make choices that will not betray his family line but still save the Muggle-lovers of the world?

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