good and bad slytherins

[prep0strus]

No: HPFGUIDX 174961

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "tigerfan41" <tigerfan41 at ...> wrote:
>
> I could be mistaken but I was sure I saw examples of good slyths. Not 
> many to be fair but they were there.
> 
> Regulus may have started down the wrong path but his heart led him to 
> the correct choice.
> 
> Phineas in his portrait gave his support to the school and it's head.
> 
> Professor Slughorn he may have been reluctant but wasn't it he and 
> Bill that went to fetch the reinforcements for the final battle?
> 

Prep0strus:

Sure, there were some good Slyths.  But of evil characters, who is
actually evil, other than Slyths?  Well, Karakoff, who reneged on
evil, was presumably from Durmstrang.  And Peter, he turned towards
evil, if from cowardice rather than a strong desire for evil.  But
other than that... As far as I know, all other Death Eaters were
Slytherin.

But more importantly, are there any ADMIRABLE slytherins?  Any
likable? Any one would like to emulate?

Not every one turned to evil, but could any be liked?  The board is
filled with discussion about Snape, but I maintain my opinion that
while he made up for some of his evil by turning good and spy, he is
still not an admirable person, because he is petty and nasty to
children, and generally of an unpleasant personality.

We see examples of familial love in the Malfoys, but still... who
wants to be a Malfoy?

Phineus, like most of his family, is arrogant, prejudiced against
muggleborn, and, well, unpleasant.

Regalus is a character I see members of the board wishing to be good
so much.  People say that James and Sirius have not been shown enough
for us to make a true judgment on their characters.  Well, we have
been given even less on Regalus.  What we know is that he was a
typical slytherin, and a death eater, until he had a change of heart.
 I haven't read anything that makes me feel he was in any way a
likable person.

And Slughorn, the least evil Slytherin we've seen, is still
unpleasant.  He heaps favors on those he thinks will be able to do
something for him, and rudely dismisses those less connected or
talented.  He's basically a coward, a sycophant, and a glutton, and
while he exhibits goodness and bravery in the finale, I don't think
anyone would aspire to be Slughornish.

It's very disappointing to me to not have a single Slytherin that I
feel I would want to spend any time with at all.  JKR appears to have
tried to show that they're not all incarnations of evil.  But having
one we could like would've gone a long way towards giving them
equality in my mind.

There are unpleasant people from all houses. But good and true and
nice and wonderful people (if flawed) as well.  Slytherins' flaws
always seem to outweigh their benefits.

~Adam (Prep0strus)