Draco and Dumbledore

[Renee]

No: HPFGUIDX 160148

 
> Renee:
> > Are we dealing with a Dumbledore who has to choose repeatedly 
> between
> > two evils, instead of between what's right and what's easy? If 
> this is
> > the case, the series would actually gain depth for me, because in
> > reality, choices aren't always between what's right and what's 
> easy,
> > and suggesting they are has always struck me as a bit simplistic. 
> It
> > also saves Dumbledore's character for me, because he realises he 
> takes
> > guilt upon himself, one way or another, but is prepared to do so 
> for
> > the greater good. 
>> 
> Alla:
> 
> I guess the question I am left with again is whether this is that 
> kind of series, you know?
> 
> Would JKR indeed want to stress that the choice is often made 
> between two evils? I mean would she want to **grey** the issues that 
> much?

Renee:
Yes, I think there's a large grey zone, especially in the last two HP
books. There is black and white at either side of the grey, but a lot
of what's going on is taking place in this grey zone. 

Alla: 
> Are you thinking in terms of JKR indeed writing the series with main 
> idea " there is no good or evil, only power"? ( or as somebody 
> joked " there is no good or evil, only Snape" Hehe.)
> 
> I thought it was clearly stressed as Voldemort's slogan and not the 
> one that Dumbledore would accept, IMO.

Renee:
No, I don't think JKR is writing the series that way. Why do you think
that describing a choice between two evils (or maybe I should say, two
bad things) is the same as suggesting the dichotomy good-evil does not
exist? The fact that the choice is between evils, automatically means
there *is* such a thing as evil, I'd say.  

Also, the choice you would have preferred DD to make is precisely the
one that does involve the use of power; protecting the students would
have meant taking direct measures against Draco and possibly forcing
Snape's hand. And one of the interesting characteristics of DD is that
he uses his power sparsely.  


Alla: 
> It is not even a question of showing  that choices in life are 
> sometimes had to be made between two evils, it is a question of how 
> one would continue to keep right mindset, if that makes any sense.

Renee:
We don't get to look at DD from the inside, as the whole episode is
written from Harry's POV. So it's rather difficult to know his
mindset. For all we know, DD was agonising about his choices during
the entire school year. I'd like to think he was, but we simply can't
tell.

As I see it, it's a matter of trusting DD - not to make no mistakes,
as we know he does make them (and he is the first to say so), but to
act, or remain passive, with the right intentions. Given the way JKR
has written him throughout the series, this is one thing I'm prepared
to believe about him. Sometimes, his approach, especially his
laissez-faire attitude, is't mine. But I don't see why that would make
me right and him wrong. 

Alla:
>I just think that whether in fictional 
> reality or even in RL the leader, the politician who has supposedly 
> **right** or **light** objectives in mind, should at least enter the 
> fight **trying** to choose what is right, not between two evils.
<snip>

Renee:
But can't you envisage a situation in which the only choice is between
two evils (or undesirable things, or whatever you want to call it) Of
course, if there is a third, better option, I'd expect the leader to
choose that. But this isn't always the case. 

Renee