good and bad slytherins/Disappointment and Responsibility
Katie
anigrrrl2 at yahoo.com
Sun Aug 12 18:06:17 UTC 2007
No: HPFGUIDX 175185
--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "lizzyben04" <lizzyben04 at ...>
wrote:
<<<LARGE SNIP>>>
> This is because, as a Gryffindor, Harry was simply a *better*
person, a naturally good person, so the outer environment can't
change this essential essence. Similarly, Sirius Black was a *better*
person than the rest of his family from an earlier age, which is why
he became a Gryffindor instead of a Slytherin. W/the Marauders &
Lily, the Sorting Hat recognized their innate moral superiority and
place among the elect. It also recognized Snape's inherent
inferiority & bad essence, which is why he gets Slytherin house. This
is because Slytherin is where the inferior, the bad, the morally
suspect children are sorted so that they can't corrupt the rest of
us. As I've said, it seems pretty clear that Slytherin children are
the damned souls of the Potterverse.
****Katie:
Damned souls? I think that's a little extreme.
First of all, I think it is perfectly clear that while the Slytherins
may not care much about other people, other people do care about
them. I never see the Slytherins being exempted from things at
Hogwarts, until the final battle, which they pretty much chose for
themselves when Parkinson wanted to turn Harry over to Voldemort. It
was only AFTER this that McGonagall asked them to leave.
They are not damned - in fact, one of the most prescient themes
throughout the books is that every single life is worth saving, if
possible. There is no arbitrary killing by the good guys. Even Draco
Malfoy has a redemption, we can ssume, by his presence in the
Epilogue and his and Harry's acknowledgement of each other, no matter
how brief. As other people have already mentioned, Slughorn turned
out to be a pretty darned good guy, and he was Head of Slytherin
House!
So, while I certainly see that the Slytherins overwhelmingly have
more corrupt people come out of there than do the other Houses, it is
by no means a lock that you will be a bad guy if you are a Slytherin.
>>lizzyben:
>
> This sends a rather horrifying message, especially w/regard to
abused or damaged children. There are four examples of children who
grow up in neglected or abusive situations - Harry, Snape, Riddle and
Merope. Harry, the superior Gryffindor, isn't severely damaged by
these abusive circumstances, while the Slytherins *are*. Snape &
Merope are totally desperate for love & acceptance, which makes them
turn to sketchy means or people in order to get that acceptance. As
natural Slytherins, they were simply unable to "rise above" their
circumstances and be normal as Harry could. So, if you turn out
bad, it's because you were BORN bad, regardless of the trauma you
might have suffered. A better person would have gotten over it.
<<LARGE SNIP>>
****Katie:
I think Harry is tremendously damaged! He sees himself as one with
Voldemort and Snape - "The Abandoned Boys" - and he always feels
inadequate and stupid. He is completely lacking in self-confidence
outside of Quidditch and DADA, and he's always sure he's about to get
someone killed.
He is terribly insecure in his friendships - always sure he's being
abandoned or that people don't *really* like him. In CoS, he is sure
that the reason he hasn't gotten any letters all summer is because no
one likes him. By OotP, he *still* thinks that, even though these
friends have, by that point, been with him through thick and thin.
And the thing with his parents...I mean, he would have wasted away in
front of the Mirror of Erised, just staring at them. He DESPERATELY
wants a family and a feeling of home, exactly what he never got from
the Dursleys.
I think Harry's just as damaged as Snape and Voldemort. And I think
that's why the three of them are such intriguing characters, and so
interconnected. They're "effed" up, as Ron would say! LOL. :) Katie
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