Further Notes on Literary Uses of Magic and Anti-Globalization in Harry Pott

[Miles]

No: HPFGUIDX 168203

dumbledore11214 wrote:
> Well, yes, I agree with what you are saying RL wise. I do not
> necessarily agree about that in Potterverse. I always believed that
> JKR draws quite strong barriers between those working for good side
> and those working for bad side and that **she** gets to decide which
> side is good and which side is bad, you know?

Miles:
Maybe there's a difference between the actions of adult and adolescent
characters?

I think you are right concerning the kids - it's a major point of criticism
concerning the actions of the characters that it's only important whether
s/he is good or evil - not what they do. The DA exclude Slytherins per
definition - that's good. The IS consists exclusively of Slytherins - that's
bad. Harry makes Kreacher working against Draco - which is a torture for
him, but it seams to be ok, Hermione brands Marietta as a sneak - well
done.... To be continued.

JKR is much more demanding concerning the adult characters. Barty Crouch is
definititely on the side of the good. But he is condemned because he uses
draconian means in his fight - Moody is shown as a "good" Auror because he
tries not to kill the DE he catches, whereas Crouch is 'punished' for trying
to do the right things with bad means.

Alla:
> I am not talking about us as readers not being able to decide that
> for ourselves, I am just saying that IMO in JKR's world once she
> decided that one side is good, it is so done and the measure of what
> they do are different IMO.

Miles:
I do not like this decision of JKR, but I agree with your observation, at
least concerning the young characters. But maybe, if you see the HP series
as a bildungsroman, one part of becoming adults is that the teenage heroes
will have to face the consequences of their questionable actions like the
adult characters in the series already have to? Which would be one twist for
the final book.

Miles