[HPforGrownups] Dark Magic and Retribution

[elfundeb]

No: HPFGUIDX 176949

Mike:
Not if you remember that you are discussing a book and the violence
is more like cartoon violence in their world. After both of the train
ride smack downs we saw Draco and co. reappear just fine in the
following books. That's the way of this world. I accept that as a
given.

Debbie:
This is a very important point, because under real world rules, these
attacks and counterattacks would be extremely dangerous.  It is cartoon
violence, but JKR uses exaggeration to great comic effect throughout the
books, and it can be funny as long as we don't apply real-world values to
these situations or treat the victims as real people.  I think these debates
tend to be between those who appreciate the slapstick comedy and those who
find that the scenes recall painful real-world events

Mike:
The only things that are not cartoon violence are torturing and
death, they are presented as real violence. And on the GoF train ride
home Harry has not two weeks prior experienced torture and narrowly
avoided death, from the guy that killed his parents. Those deaths he
was also forcibly reminded of in the Priori Incantatum scene.

Debbie:
We do have that little inconvenience where the Hero gratuitously uses real
violence without apology or explanation.

Mike:
Now here comes the son of one of LV's followers, someone who knows
that LV is back, and he decides it's a good time to taunt Harry and
co. with their precarious position in their world. Harry already
knows that LV wants him dead, he just doesn't know why. Then Draco
makes light of Cedric's death. I not only understand Harry's
reaction, I find that reaction entirely *justified*. You may say that
I am being manipulated, I say that I am reacting logically to the
situation that is being presented.

Debbie:
I believe reacting logically to the entirety of the situation presented
results in a conclusion that Harry's reaction was understandable.  Whether
it was justified depends on the moral code being applied, and we don't all
apply the same code.  I find Harry's actions understandable but could not
justify them without accepting the WW's tacit warrior code.  However, Fred
and George aren't in the same circumstances as Harry at all.  It was not
their battle to fight; they simply appointed themselves as Harry's
defenders.

Debbie
who wrote this response yesterday and forgot to post it


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