(Please excuse me commenting to this so late in the day, I've only just got around to looking at some posts I'd bookmarked months ago.)
Obviously I don't know why other people are bothered by Harry using the Cruciatus curse, and I agree with you and RSF that it fits in the context and with Harry's characterisation; and I like RSF's additional reasoning about showing it doesn't work so well if you don't mean it.
But I was bothered in general by the way the Unforgivable Curses did seem to be quite casually scattered around by the good guys, when JKR had previously been at such pains to set them up as *Unforgiveable*, i.e. about the worst things you can do, instant one-way ticket to Azkaban etc. It didn't feel entirely consistent to me; it seemed she was giving a message that it was okay (or at least, not too bad) if the *good guys* used them, and that didn't sit very well with me. I don't like the 'one rule for them, a different rule for us' sense that we sometimes get with these books. The instance that most bothered me was McGonagall using the Imperius in Ch. 30, using it as if it was just the most convenient thing and no different from any other spell, when really it was quite unnecessary (she could have just Stunned the guy and dragged him or got Harry to drag him next to his sister.) I suppose I want more of an acknowledgement that these curses are weighty, significant things to be doing, not to be thrown around lightly and casually. Sure, have Harry and others do it, but make it clear it's a big deal.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
branchandroot
(no subject)
Date: 2008-01-17 11:50 am (UTC)Obviously I don't know why other people are bothered by Harry using the Cruciatus curse, and I agree with you and RSF that it fits in the context and with Harry's characterisation; and I like RSF's additional reasoning about showing it doesn't work so well if you don't mean it.
But I was bothered in general by the way the Unforgivable Curses did seem to be quite casually scattered around by the good guys, when JKR had previously been at such pains to set them up as *Unforgiveable*, i.e. about the worst things you can do, instant one-way ticket to Azkaban etc. It didn't feel entirely consistent to me; it seemed she was giving a message that it was okay (or at least, not too bad) if the *good guys* used them, and that didn't sit very well with me. I don't like the 'one rule for them, a different rule for us' sense that we sometimes get with these books. The instance that most bothered me was McGonagall using the Imperius in Ch. 30, using it as if it was just the most convenient thing and no different from any other spell, when really it was quite unnecessary (she could have just Stunned the guy and dragged him or got Harry to drag him next to his sister.) I suppose I want more of an acknowledgement that these curses are weighty, significant things to be doing, not to be thrown around lightly and casually. Sure, have Harry and others do it, but make it clear it's a big deal.
So, that's my tuppence-worth ;-)