Cowards in HP WAS Re: CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chamber of Secrets Chapter 18:

[Joey Smiley]

No: HPFGUIDX 189354

> Nikkalmati
> 
> We know that courage is one of the greatest virtues in the books and that SS hates to be called "coward".
> I was wondering have we ever listed all the cowards in the books?
> I propose Pettigrew as number one. Lockhart as number two.  Dudley was also a coward, like all bullies tend to be.   

Joey:

My ranking might be different but yes these three come across as cowards to me too.

> Nikkalmati:
> Anyone who attacks a Muggle with magic, because they are weaker and magic is unexpected for them. I guess that includes the twins, Hagrid and Bella (not to the same degree, of course).  

Joey:

I agree with your point that bullies are actually cowards. Yet I think not all people you have listed here are cowards. 

The *intention* of the twins was to take revenge. I think it was a typical way of settling scores at that age. They just seem to have used their strengths without pausing to think that their opponent did not have the advantage they had. They meant to get even on behalf of Harry. Not that I justify what they did but I don't think this is cowardice. Remember their reactions when Mr Weasley told them off for having hurt a Muggle?

Hagrid. Well, he makes statements that scoff at the limitations of Muggle powers. So, I'll not say what I said for the twins. And remembering the way he responded to Rita Skeeter's article about his mother, yes, he does seem to have certain types of cowardice in him. 

Bellatrix. She just grew up that way. Squashing people she dislikes. Yet I don't think she is a coward - she seems to fear nothing including Azkaban. Bold but mentally perverted, thoroughly wicked and alarmingly aggressive. She badly needs psychiatric counselling.

> Nikkalmati:
> Was Quirrell a coward?  Merope? Karakoff? Marietta?  Fudge?

Joey:

Quirrell, yeah. A weak-minded (and hence, brainwashed) entity. 

Merope was subjected to an advanced level of abuse since her childhood and had almost zero exposure to a non-Gaunt environment thus making it difficult for her to learn from others. So, I'm finding it tough to call her a coward. She did seem to have it in her to choose her life once the two Gaunts were out of her life.

Karkaroff, yes. A sickening combination of cunning and cowardice.

Marietta seems to be more of a poor decision-maker than a coward. She had succumbed to peer (or best friend) pressure from Cho and joined to DA against her actual wishes. Finally, she snapped.  

Fudge, oh, yes. Downright spineless.

Cheers,
~Joey :-)