[HPforGrownups] Re: Villain!Dumbledore - Nature of People

[IreneMikhlin]

No: HPFGUIDX 177722

Steve wrote:

> 
> Further, I think any of the House traits has 
> potential for evil. Reckless courage, blind loyalty,
> unthinking intellect, and unrestrained ambition all
> have equal potential for evil. And, I think the 
> books try to illustrate this. 
> 
> The Slytherins we see represent the darkest part of
> our selves, and what we should get from the books is
> the inward search for the answer to this question;
> do we rule our Slytherin traits or do they rule us?
> 

The book that should have been invites that sort of introspection. But 
the book that actually happened requires nothing of the sort. Why would 
a child (or teenager, or adult) try to examine his conscience? It's 
other people that do evil things, and they are easily distinguishable. 
We, the good ones, the ones that identify with Gryffindor, will never be 
touched by evil.

Even JKR's greatest sin, treason, is actually not such a sin if you are 
a Gryffindor. Hagrid betrayed the Order in book 1, and no one batted a 
lid. In book 7, when Harry wonders whether Hagrid betrayed the Order 
again in another fit of drunken behaviour, he actually forgives him in 
his mind *before* they learn it's Mundungus.

The only thing JKR tries to take to the bad direction, other than 
ambition, is the unthinking intellect. She is very suspicious of 
excessive intellect, LOL. Ravenclaw is the second worst house, and 
Hermione's saving grace is that she has denounced intellect in book 1.

Irene