Danger in designating an "Other" / Bad magic

[Beatrice23]

No: HPFGUIDX 174102

There is so much on this thread that I am not even going to try to 
snip a few sentences to address.

I do however, want to ask people to consider two points.  First, that 
we have a limited view of Slytherin, because we are somewhat limited 
to Harry's view on that house, not because JKR has a narrow view of 
the people sorted into that house.  While it is often difficult to 
remember when we are reading, we need to remember that the author is 
writing from a particular narrative perspective (which has been 
widely discussed as third person limited omnicient - but 
significantly tied to Harry's own thoughts), and this narrative 
perspective does not necessarily correspond in part or at all with 
the author's perspective.  Additionally, we now have to consider what 
is Harry's perspective and what has formed that perspective.  Well, 
let's see, just a quick glance...a member of Slytherin house murdered 
his parents, from his initial introduction to Hogwarts Slytherin's 
have been bullying, across the board people connected with the house 
have worked tirelessly to bring about his destruction, and perhaps 
most importantly, Harry fears the qualities in himself that seem to 
associate him with that house. Also, many people have pointed to the 
fact that the battle at Hogwarts seems to be fought singularly by the 
other three houses, yet we know that at some point Slughorn returns 
and that Snape has been fighting all along.  Perhaps, because of 
Harry's limited perspective and his limited knowledge of the members 
of Slytherin there are others who are do return to fight, but simply 
go unnoticed by Harry and thus by us, because of the limited 
narrative.  It is only because of the knowledge of Snape's sacrifice 
gained at the very end of the novel, that opens Harry's eyes about 
Slytherin house and allows for his change of heart during his 
discussion with his son at the end of the novel.   

Second, I don't agree with that Slytherin is "evil" nor that evil is 
the right way to label all of its members.  Okay, so Voldemort, 
Bellatrix, et al, certainly deserve that label.  But, here is where 
Harry's limited perspective comes in to play, Harry doesn't seem to 
be acquainted with many Slytherins so it is inevitable that his 
perspective is incredibly narrow.  Now let's consider a couple of 
members of Slytherin (from the few we know).  Pansy Parkinson 
specifically her call to hand Harry over to LV at the end.  Is this 
an act of evil?  Or is Parkinson acting out of fear and her own 
weakness?   We as readers find it so abhorent, because of our 
perspective that Harry is the hero, as we know from Neville, Hogwarts 
and the WW at large has been terrorized for many months and everyone 
is in "mortal peril."  From Parkinson's perspective handing Harry 
over is about self-peservation not necessarily love of LV.  And 
wouldn't it be out of character for her to rise to Harry's aid, just 
out of the blue?  I suspect however, that Malfoy,is perhaps (although 
it has not been widely discussed) is truly at the heart of this 
discussion, as readers many have been hoping that Malfoy would be 
redeemed through the novel  a lot of fan fiction ink has been spilled 
on this particular subject.  This perhaps is the source of the real 
dissatisfaction.  Again, I have a really hard time labeling Malfoy 
as "evil," he just seems so weak and foolish.  This may make him at 
best a good vehicle for evil, but not necessarily evil in and of 
himself.  Malfoy isn't redeemed in the novel, because he stays true 
to character, despite the terror and abuse he receives at the hand of 
LV, his father and other DE's, Malfoy isn't introspective enough to 
seek redemption, all he seeks is power, although as readers we see 
how limited his power is, to assuage his powerlessness, and glory 
(again feeble as it is) to cure his inferiority.  What is perhaps 
tragic about him, is that he is offered mercy by Dumbledore, and 
Harry and doesn't have the brains to grab it.

Beatrice