The Overarching message (of the HP books)

[nikkalmati]

No: HPFGUIDX 191647



--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "dumbledore11214" <dumbledore11214 at ...> wrote:
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>> Alla:
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> I cannot speak for Nikkalmati, but I am going to speculate that she is using different definition of evil than you (and myself as well) are using. He was fighting for a good side (no matter how much I wanted him to end up being evil in that regard as well) - why not  give him the dues for that? But absolutely for what he did to Harry he will remain forever evil in my book, I am just giving him a credit for what he did. I of course also reject the idea that since he fought for a good side, he became less evil for how he treated Harry. >snip<
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Nikkalmati

So, what is the nature of evil?  

I don't imagine we have a different idea of evil, really.  Doing something wrong doesn't make you evil necessarily.  By that I mean, of course, doing it with a bad intent, not accidentally or without knowing the consequences.  It still does not make one evil.  An evil person cannot do good, except perhaps unintentionally.  

As Hermione says to Harry in HBP, after they think Snape killed DD for his own personal selfish reasons, and Harry says the Half Blood Prince was evil : "'Evil' is a strong word" meaning she disagrees, and, we know, Hermione usually speaks for JKR. 

Nikkalmati