Lockhart's role Was: Re: CHAPTER DISCUSSION Chamber of Secrets Ch. 6

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 188852


> Alla:
> Let me rephrase the question then. Are you saying that in the person of Lockhart this is the lesson Harry learns? Why do you think Harry needed to learn that lesson? How did it help him in the grand scheme of things in the Potterverse? 

Pippin:

Harry has to accept that the world is not divided into good people and Death Eaters. Lockhart is an early illustration of that. 

Taking credit for other people's work is also a big theme in the Half Blood Prince, which, IIRC, was originally conceived for the  plot of CoS. Was Harry any different than Lockhart? If he had continued to pose as a potions genius, would he not also eventually have been exposed? Did Harry become just as caught up in the glow of praise and attention as Lockhart was?

Alla:
> And in what ways do you think Lockhart prequels Crouch Sr.? Are you saying that we are witnessing a change from amoral teacher who is not into Dark arts to amoral official who is not into Dark arts? 

Pippin: 
 Crouch is presented as someone who became so obsessed with maintaining his power that his ability to make moral distinctions deteriorated. It was only when his power was taken away that he was able to see that he'd done wrong.  But in order to comprehend that, and many other characters, even James, Sirius and Dumbledore, we have to understand that opposing the Dark Arts is by no means synonymous with goodness. 

Pippin