A bit of Potter-rant

[owl]

fernwithy's latest entry, on subversive readings, prompted me to post this.

It really annoys me when people say that Dumbledore is amoral and manipulative, and the Weasleys are abusive or bad parents, while at the same time the Malfoys are the perfect family.

GAH! Yes, the Weasleys aren't perfect, Dumbledore has faults, MWPP were capable of bullying at fifteen, but that doesn't make them bad through and through. I think it's obvious from JKR's writing and interviews where her love lies. Then of course you get the people whinging that 'I can write better than Rowling! She doesn't know what to do with her own characters!'

One person I saw recently saying she hated James and Sirius since OotP. But yet she's a huge Draco fan. She was greatly offended by the recent JKR interview where she said that 'girls like Tom Felton and confuse him with Draco', or somesuch. What is there about Draco that's more likeable than James and Sirius? Draco's capable of the sme sort of bullying as the Snivellus incident--he has Leg-lockered Neville and expanded Hermione's teeth (encouraged by his teacher, the petty...grr). He has carried out a dangerous and potentially fatal 'prank' a la Sirius (Harry falls off his broom when he sees Dementors, let's dress up as Dementors! He had no way of knowing about the Patronus), and on several occasions has expressed pleasure at the thought of the demise of Harry and his friends.

And James and Sirius have shown themselves capable of self-sacrifice, love and courage, unlike Draco.

Now, I'm not saying that Draco isn't an interesting character, because I think he is, in his glorious screwed-up pettiness and malice. I'm not saying it's impossible for him to be improved in canon. But how is he so much better than MWPP, the Weasleys, Harry and Dumbledore?

Comments

"Gryffindors are Slytherins with better PR"

[ravenclaw-devi.livejournal.com]

You took the words right out of my mouth.

Young Sirius and James actually remind me a lot of Draco - they were, to a large degree, arrogant bullies, just like he is. And Draco might well have his good qualities (he seems to be a devoted son, for instance, as misguided as that devotion may be, considering his father's evilness), it's just that those sides of him are rarely - if ever - shown "on page".

The only aspect (well, apart from the good qualities that he also has) in which Sirius was better than Draco is that he wasn't conceited about his "noble heritage", even though he was just as pureblooded.

That seems to be the difference between the Gryffs and Slyths - the Slytherins (as portrayed by JKR) pick on those who are poor (like the Weasleys) or lacking "blood purity"; the Gryffindor just pick on anyone they feel like picking on, whenever they feel like picking on them. So, is one really that much better than the other? Sure, racism and classism is evil; but is it okay to be a bully just as long as you aren't a racist/prejudiced bully?

Re: "Gryffindors are Slytherins with better PR"

[ex-ajhalluk585.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't even necessarily say they pick on anyone who is poor; it's just that when they pick on the Weasleys, their poverty is the characteristic they choose. Which is unpleasant, true. But if there are poor Slytherins on the Slytherin house team (and there may well be) at least they're playing on decent brooms; unlike the poor Gryffindors.

Re: "Gryffindors are Slytherins with better PR"

[owl]

Yes, but I was saying 'why do people love Draco and hate James and Sirius when they act in much the same way?' Sirius' childhood was at least as screwed up as Draco's in the way of bigotry; James probably was as spoiled.
And Sirius was just 'not conceited' about his purebloodedness, he got out of the whole Dark arts milieu of his family. Why not go into the DEs, making mummy approve of him again?

Re: "Gryffindors are Slytherins with better PR"

[ravenclaw-devi.livejournal.com]

I agree that Sirius deserves a lot of kudos for having the strength and the insight to reject his family's evil ways. It's one major reason why I do love him despite his faults.

And James wasn't just a bully, he was also the brave man who died trying to protect his family.

I was just concentrating on their bad side in my post, not saying that this bad side was all that was to them. And I don't hate Sirius and James for things I'd excuse in Draco, for that matter.

Re: "Gryffindors are Slytherins with better PR"

[owl]

And James wasn't just a bully, he was also the brave man who died trying to protect his family.

Yes. We haven't seen Draco do anything even vaguely selfless. I'm not saying he's not capable of it, though I think there's a large amount of Slytherin self-preservation instinct to be overcome first, but currently there's no evidence that he is.

I was just concentrating on their bad side in my post, not saying that this bad side was all that was to them. And I don't hate Sirius and James for things I'd excuse in Draco, for that matter.


My point exactly. Why hate James and Sirius for behaviour you condone or excuse in Draco? Personally I don't hate any of them. I love snotty bigoted Death-Eater-in-training canon Draco, and I do think he had a rotten start.