[HPforGrownups] Re: Unforgivables.

[Maeg]

No: HPFGUIDX 173504


Charles wrote:

> The UC's were "unforgivable" because of ministry proscription. Whether
> that stemmed from morality or not is not actually explored in the
> books. The UC's were named UC's because the use of them on a human
> earned a life sentence in Azkaban.

I think there's some evidence in the series that UCs are just that  
for reasons of morality AND legality. Another poster quoted Sirius's  
comment about UCs that seems to suggest a strong moral opposition.  
Moody's lecture on UCs wasn't "don't use these curses because you'll  
get sent to prison forever" but rather "there's some bad things that  
people can do to other people, and I want you all to understand how  
horrific they are so you won't be afraid to stand up against those  
who would use these curses."

Therefore, I think you've got it backward. They're not called  
Unforgivables because you get sent to prison for life; they're  
"unforgivable" because they're the ultimate sin against another  
(which is why you get sent to prison for life).

Actually, it's more complex than that. It's a false dichotomy to  
separate law and morality. They both inform one another.

To drag it back to discussion of Harry, I was surprised at Harry's  
reaction to his own use of Cruciatus. Well, not his first reaction  
(that Bellatrix was right). That's just a quick observation in the  
immediate aftermath. What surprised me was that there was no question  
in his mind that torturing someone was the right thing to do. Whether  
it was justified or not, Harry doesn't seem to think that he's  
crossed a line into new territory, nor that he should question what  
he's done to make sure it really was a measured response. I'd expect  
some twinge of doubt, if not actual repugnance at one's own actions  
(whether the action is justified or not).

Given how "good" we're told Harry is, this struck me as totally out  
of character. In one blink of an eye, he became Vengeance!Harry  
without a conscience. It's canon, but I don't buy it, and it makes me  
care a lot less about what happens to him.

Oh, and Charles? Insulting a fellow listie's child doesn't strengthen  
your argument.

Maeg

My mind isn't always in the gutter -- sometimes it comes out to feed.