[HPforGrownups] Re: Philosophy of Dumbledore (was:Moody's death...)

[Marion Ros]

No: HPFGUIDX 179537

Betsy Hp:
>>As an author though, building a world where good and evil are going 
>>to battle for ultimate victory, it's probably a good idea to have 
>>some sense of what differentiates your good guys from your bad guys. 
<snipped lots of stuff I totally agree with>
>>SO, IMO, this series is a moral mockery. 

Marion delurks for just a moment:

Totally agree with you Betsy (as usual <grin>) but even on a 'lower' level, so to speak, the Harry Potter books are a moral mockery. 
I mean, not only are there no consequences when a 'good guy' does a truly despicable thing like throwing torture spells or facially scarring (how many schoolchildren reading the books will actually have experience with these kind of things after all) but there are no consequences to the everyday stupid, disobedient, dishonest or plainly wrong things schoolchildren are familiar with and tempted by.
And JKR applauds all these things as being totally 'okay' and 'cool'.

For instance:

*Cheating at your schoolwork - Harry cheats all year long in Potions class using some other kids work and is awarded grades he doesn't deserve - message: its totally okay to cheat.

*Roaming around at night, causing mayhem, is fun! - the Marauders loved to roam around at night with a barely controlled werewolf - message: ain't those scamps cool! Its the sign of True Friendship to climb out of the window at night, join up with your bad ass buddies and make the neighbourhood unsafe. It's utterly cool! Well, yes, there were a few close calls and people nearly died, but hey! As long as you're having fun, right?

*Joyriding in a stolen, illegal car - Harry and Ron take the Weasley's flying car and crash it into school property - message: look how cool and exciting! Aren't teachers who say that joyriding is wrong killjoys?!

*Schoolwork is stupid anyway - Hermione might be a swot, but she's a useful swot. Harry and Ron never crack a book if they can help it, but hey! if they get bad grades its just because the teacher hates them, right?

*When you don't like a teacher (when he expects you to do your homework, take that obstinate and arrogant look of your face and *pay attention* for instance), you can yell at him, be rude to him and call him names - message: teachers should only be respected, no strike that, teachers should only be *tolerated* when they pander to you, give you sweets, give you presents and break rules in your favor.

*Don't respect anybody, least of all adults - one of Harry's most annoying characteristics is that he simply does not *like* anybody (let alone respects them) as long as they do not clearly state to be on *his* side, to take *his* view on things and to agree mindlessly with anything *he* says. Perhaps not so strange for somebody who grew up in a cupboard, but then there are the Weasley twins, and Ginny, and Ron, and Hermione. Each and every one of our 'heroes' are totally self-absorbed and have less empathy that yesterday's baked bread. Message: *you* are the only person who is important. Everybody should pander to YOU. Don't give a moment's thought about other people's feelings, wishes, heck, don't give a moment's thought about their *existence*. They only matter in what they can do for *you*, and if they're not with you, they're against you. 

*Attack the nerdy kid four to one, he deserves it for being so fiendishly clever - do I really need to explain? Message: intellectuals are creepy. Those who look, think or talk differently are creepy. Those who are obviously richer than us is creepy. Those who are obviously poor are creepy. ATTACK!! ATTACK!!

*Those who are intelligent and want to better themselves are betraying their families - God forbid that anyone should have ambition! And what could be better than being a Weasley, having such loving siblings who constantly make fun of you, belittle you and throw mashed turnip in your face just to show you how much they love you -not! Message: stupid is Good. Stupid is Honest, Salt-of-the-Earth. 

*Drop out of school completely. Who needs school anyway? - Harry's got better things to do than *learn stuff*.. The Twins drop out of school and become succesful businessmen - message: school is a waste of time; it's not as if you needs diplomas or anything.

And I could go on, and on, and on...



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