Andromeda as good Slytherin WAS: Disappointment

[prep0strus]

No: HPFGUIDX 177574


> Robert:
>  
>  
> I didn't make up the character of Andromeda. All of her traits are
described on the pages of the books, which I did not write. Wish I
did,  but I didn't.  As for posting, I was offering one example where
it was inferred none were given. But, you are right, characters you
create yourself can be and do anything you wish, including "lots of
Slytherins."  Andromeda may not be a perfect woman. It doesn't say she
is in the books. She and Narcissa seem to share more traits than she
and Bellatrix.  She and Narcissa both value their families over 
Voldemort, but the difference is that Andromeda chose to chuck
pureblood ideology out the window as far as her future life went. 
Secondary, or character from the back row or not, she is an example of
a Slytherin who chose to not follow her family's beliefs after leaving
school. A much more viable character than lots of Slytherins, IMO.
> 

Prep0strus:
But... how can this be THE example? JKR never even comes out and says
she is slytherin.  I mean, we can assume it, but so many people
consider things characters have 'said' to be exaggerations (like
hagrid's, 'not a single death eater wasn't from slytherin', which by
the way way, i'm not sure ISN'T true - was pettigrew ever defined as a
true death eater? many serve who don't get that honor. i guess
karakoff, but still, among graduates of hogwarts...) that how do we
even know it for a complete fact? we don't.  and then we get a couple
minutes with someone who adds very little to the story.  my personal
opinion? she was probably slytherin. probably arrogant and a little
racist as a child. probably a nice person and a good parent and
grandparent as an adult.  none of that is fact, but i think it's
probably true.

but the point is that we had to go that far to find a slytherin who is
an acceptable human being.  we had to first assume she is slytherin,
which she might not be.  then we have to assume her character - which
also might not be so great.  that's the point other posters were
making - she COULD be so many other things.  if we didn't know
slughorn as we did, he might just be a jolly professor who wasn't a
death eater - yay! Great guy! but we know him a little deeper, and
know him to be a selfish, weak man who divides and discriminates
against children and seems to only care about them for his own gain. 
a very flawed man, who, while not evil, is certainly nothing to aspire
to or admire.

if JKR wanted us to think of Slytherin as equal, she wouldn't have
given us one maybe-slytherin who seems likely-nice in the almost no
page time we get with her.  It's not much of an example.  Andromeda as
the symbol of all that is right with Slytherin?  That they are good
and decent and full equals in society?  If it works for you, run with
it, but for me, that's a pretty big pill to swallow.

Robert:
> Personally, I like Draco the way he is. Despite everything, all the  
> humiliation and torture his family went through, he has not wavered
from his personal beliefs. He has seen Voldemort's version up close
and personal but he still feels what he has always believed is still
the right way for the WW to be going. He is a man of conviction. He
isn't someone who can be led by what's the latest "in" thing. Just
because he stands by his upbringing and DOESN'T make the choices
Andromeda made, doesn't mean he is lost forever. In my opinion he is a
great bad guy and I'd rather see him remain a Slytherin than to  see
him turn into just another convert who has seen the error of his ways.
 That would not be Draco as described in the books. That would be a
born again Draco and I don't even want to think beyond that.
>  
> Robert
>


Prep0strus:
Again, it's how you read it.  I don't know that he hasn't wavered. I
don't know that he has. I don't think JKR gave us nearly enough in DH
for me to make that determination.  I don't think he's a man of
conviction at ALL - i think he's a man of expedience, and fear, and
finding a way to come out of it ok.  i don't think he's a great bad
guy, and i don't think he's a good good guy.  i think he's a pathetic
mush, but more, i think he's an abandoned storyline.  I don't think
what we saw of him in DH gives us the ability to say anything for
certain when it comes to draco, and while sometimes ambiguity is a
good thing... in this case, i don't think it is.


CathyD:
I don't identify with Draco, but if I were a girl at his school, I'd
have a crush on him: he's good-looking, stylish, funny, intelligent
enough to be a good student with good marks, and I must confess that I
find that wealth and a posh accent are attractive features. Having a
crush on him, I'd either be in denial about his bloodism and
genocidism or believe that he would learn better by associating with
me and my high morals. As an adult reader, I have a similar attitude:
he's an attractive character and I want him to reform and be redeemed.

Prep0strus:
Man, this may be off topic and personal rather than canon based
analysis, but... argh.  All his humor comes from putting down others 
he's the leader of a pathetic mini-gang of idiot. Whether or not you
think he might 'get better', you'd think that the bloodism an
genocidism might be a bigger red flag. It's not a problem with draco,
or with the ww, or th harry potter series... it's a problem with
girls!  He doesn't even make that convincing of a 'bad boy' to me,
because he always comes off as so pathetic, but hey... rich arrogant
jerk?  You're right (no sarcasm).  why WASN'T he getting more girls at
hogwarts? (again, no sarcasm)

Adam (Prep0strus), who's not surprised to be single when this is the
standard so many girls look for