DH reread CH 12

[wondaqueen]

No: HPFGUIDX 186444

 
> Montavilla47:
> 
> I like that idea, Pippin.  But I just don't see it.  What I really 
> get from the books is that the good guys are good--they 
> only do bad things because the bad guys made them.  So, 
> the fact that they do bad things doesn't reflect badly on them.
> 

wondaqueen:
I got something different from the books.  Through the first six books, I would have agreed with you; it was clear that the good guys were good and the bad guys were bad.  

But DH added a bit of complexity to the formula.  I think that JKR did a wonderful job of showing that people are complex - that no one is all good or all bad, as long as they still have a soul.  We learn that Dumbledore, who had been portrayed as this wise grandfather, was manipulating Harry and others.  Yes, he was manipulating for the greater good but he was manipulating them nonetheless.  And we learn characters like Snape and Narcissa Malfoy, who have been portrayed as bad throughout the series, have good in them and that they can make choices for good.  

What I took away from the books is that we shouldn't see people as purely good or bad. People are complex and it's in that complexity that we find the true story.

(BTW, this is my first post -- hi! -- so if I violated any of the (somewhat complicated) rules, I apologize.  I've thoroughly enjoyed reading the thoughtful posts.)

-Alli