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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