Thanks for commenting. You brought up two very good points I wish I'd thought to address in the essay:
at the other end, he's an amoral opportunist who is only interested in power and the good of the Malfoys, someone who considered Voldemort to be a means to an end.
This is very possibly his true nature, and if it is, that would make him – in my eyes – even more of a monster than the racist version. Because to have done the things he did and to have facilitated the things his fellows did only for the sake of gain, rather than because he truly believed in a sick ideology, would mean that he did those things knowing that they were wrong but not caring that they were wrong.
I don't mean to say that I give the racist any more understanding than I would give the opportunist, but I while I believe (thanks to karelia and Frederick Kazigwemo)) that the racist might have a chance at true redemption, it far harder for me to imagine the opportunist being similarly redeemable.
I admit I do enjoy fanon!Lucius to a degree; the suave and sneaky bastard who is nonetheless good to his friends and loves his family.
I touched on this, but only in the chat I included in the essay.
I've also enjoyed that Lucius – to a degree. But who he really is (according to JKR's portrayal) and what I see as the potential baggage that comes with not addressing that characterisation has never been far enough at the back of my mind for me to fully enjoy the fanon character. I am always pulled out by a sick feeling in my tummy that I am endorsing a – to use your term – "whitewashed" version of a character I hate. Really, really hate.
Because I can't lose myself totally in the stories featuring that Lucius, no matter how good the writing, I have been left feeling guilty and angry at myself for even trying to forget the canon character.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2012-08-28 10:18 am (UTC)at the other end, he's an amoral opportunist who is only interested in power and the good of the Malfoys, someone who considered Voldemort to be a means to an end.
This is very possibly his true nature, and if it is, that would make him – in my eyes – even more of a monster than the racist version. Because to have done the things he did and to have facilitated the things his fellows did only for the sake of gain, rather than because he truly believed in a sick ideology, would mean that he did those things knowing that they were wrong but not caring that they were wrong.
I don't mean to say that I give the racist any more understanding than I would give the opportunist, but I while I believe (thanks to
I admit I do enjoy fanon!Lucius to a degree; the suave and sneaky bastard who is nonetheless good to his friends and loves his family.
I touched on this, but only in the chat I included in the essay.
I've also enjoyed that Lucius – to a degree. But who he really is (according to JKR's portrayal) and what I see as the potential baggage that comes with not addressing that characterisation has never been far enough at the back of my mind for me to fully enjoy the fanon character. I am always pulled out by a sick feeling in my tummy that I am endorsing a – to use your term – "whitewashed" version of a character I hate. Really, really hate.
Because I can't lose myself totally in the stories featuring that Lucius, no matter how good the writing, I have been left feeling guilty and angry at myself for even trying to forget the canon character.