The Harry Potter series has some competition when it comes to the most-hated villain, with the seemingly obvious Dark Lord often edged out by the pink-clad Umbridge in fans' minds. Both are, of course, truly horrifying - Voldemort, with his obsession with 'purebloods' and obvious parallels to Hilter, and Umbridge, who manages to be more terrifying because she isn't a Dark Wizard, but a horrifying person who is driven by hatred. And while Voldemort has his own tragic backstory, it's hard to find any sympathy for either of these characters.
However, there are plenty of other villainous characters and people who do terrible things in the series that do earn some sympathy from fans. Whether these are villains who struggled against extreme adversity or people put in impossible situations, it's possible to have real understanding for some of the darkest figures in the Wizarding World.
9 The Centaur Herd
The Harry Potter series makes no secret of the fact that the Wizarding World has no problem oppressing races of magical creatures who are not human - so it should come as little surprise that many of them are not well-disposed to wizards... something that often casts them in the light of 'villains'. The mythology-inspired Centaur Herd of the Forbidden Forest may threaten many of the human characters, torture and traumatize Umbridge, and even attack and cast out one of their own, but given how they are treated, it's easy to feel sympathy for them.
Given how hated Umbridge is, and the fact that they do no real damage to any of the 'good' characters in the series, makes it even easier to feel for these creatures. However, their comparatively little screentime, and the fact that they attacked Firenze (in the books) for helping Harry, mitigates that sympathy somewhat.
8 Aragog
The Acromantula isn't so much a 'villain' as a monster - this giant, sentient, spider doesn't have particularly villainous motives at all. However, Aragog does attempt to kill and consume Harry and Ron (or, technically speaking, allow his brood of children to do so), which definitely places him in the camp of the bad guys.
Fans do have some sympathy, though. The fact that Harry and Ron walked willingly into his lair in the Forbidden Forest (albeit on Hagrid's suggestion) makes the fact that they would be eaten a bit more understandable. And, of course, Hagrid's love for Aragog creates immediate sympathy for the creature. His death also helps Harry finally gain the memory from Slughorn that he needs, so even after passing, Aragog ends up aiding the hero - not eating him.
7 Vernon & Petunia Dursley
Harry's aunt and uncle are intended to be caricatures of bad caregivers - the worst kind of parents, and they abuse Harry and treat him terribly. It's revealed that throughout his childhood, they neglected and often starved him, told him lies about his parents, and made him a servant in their house. It's hard to believe that there could be any sympathy for them at all!
However, it cannot be forgotten that the Dursleys were forced, by a powerful wizard (Dumbledore), to take in a child that they did not want - and a child that was, in fact, a Horcrux. Fans have theorized that it may have even been the presence of Harry that made them as vile as they were, given how Ron reacted to having a Horcrux around him for only a few months! Top that off with Petunia's own twisted grief and bitterness about her sister, and there's definitely some sympathy for these muggles.
6 Griphook
Griphook, like the Centaurs, has to deal with much of the Wizarding World treating him as a lesser being - which no doubt informs his behavior. He is seen as a villain for 'tricking' the Golden Trio, intending to keep the Sword of Gryffindor and leave them trapped inside Gringotts (presumably to be killed) - and he nearly succeeds, too.
However, the Golden Trio were planning to pull one over on Griphook, too. It wasn't intended to lead to his death, but it's hard to judge Griphook harshly for wanting to double-cross Harry, when Harry wanted to double-cross him. It's also explained that Goblin history and culture views Goblin-made items as stolen when they are passed to other wizards, so to Griphook, he is not a villain, but a noble Goblin - he intends to trap thieves and restore a stolen item to his race.
5 Dudley Dursley
Dudley is, for almost the entire series, a cruel and spoiled bully. He likes to throw tantrums, break things, and beat up smaller children (including Harry, when he can). He only has a few moments where he seems in any way kind - bringing Harry a cup of tea, or telling him that he "doesn't think you are a waste of space" in the end.
These seem like small things, but Dudley gets some sympathy because of his odious parents. He cannot be blamed for the fact that he was spoiled as a child, raised without boundaries, and taught to be violent. In scenes left out of the movies, his parents encourage him to 'whack' other children with a 'Smelting Stick', and see his anger and bullying as signs of his leadership and confidence, and encourage them. As he grows up, he seems to mellow, and he and Harry may not become friends, but do end up on 'Christmas Card terms' and get to know each other's children.
4 Severus Snape
Snape is often portrayed as the most sympathetic villain in the Harry Potter series, but this is a contentious assertion. He is a red herring of a villain for most of the series, and a bad teacher, who plays favorites and bullies children - but he is also revealed to be working for Dumbledore at all times, as a double agent. He takes over as Headmaster after killing Dumbledore, but then reveals in the end that he has always been working for Dumbledore, and that he has always loved Lily - the reason for his defection from the Death Eaters.
This complex and layered story is one of the best character arcs in the series, and the reveal of his miserable childhood only adds to the sympathy that fans feel for him. However, it cannot be denied that he treats his students badly, and that he voluntarily became a Death Eater in the first place. It's difficult to see him as truly sympathetic, and yet he is written so that he cannot be seen as truly villainous, either.
3 Draco Malfoy
Draco is set up as Harry's nemesis from the start - a snobbish boy who is destined to be a Death Eater like his father. And over time, he does this - he lets the Death Eaters into the school, in a Battle that seems to lead to Dumbledore's death (although it is later revealed he was already dying at the time). He taunts and bullies other children, and does join Voldemort after his return.
However, it's also easy to see that Draco, like Dudley, is a child who is the product of his upbringing. His parents instill in him the idea that muggle-born witches and wizards are lesser, and he is continually praised for his actions. He is also seen to struggle, later on - feeling trapped and helpless, unable to break free of the Death Eaters, and sobbing over the task that he has been given. In the end, he leaves the Death Eaters, and also builds a better relationship with Harry in adulthood, and fought against Delphini in The Cursed Child.
2 Dumbledore
Many may not see Dumbledore as a villain at all, but there is little doubt that he has behaved villainously in his life - something that fans will no doubt see more of in the upcoming Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore. He joined forced with Grindlewald as a young man, he may well have been responsible for his sister's death, and then he kept Harry alive, drip-feeding him information and manipulating him to lead to his own death 'at the proper time' (as Snape put it, shocked at Dumbledore's actions).
However, it is hard not to sympathize with the Headmaster. He is a wise old man by the time of the series, and for all the manipulation that he does of Harry, he does it for the best reasons, and seemingly with real care for the boy. His actions as a teen were so regretted that they shaped his life, and he took down the worst wizards he faced.
1 Sirius Black
By the end of the series, it's easy to forget that Sirius was originally a villain - or introduced as one, at least. Harry's godfather was originally seen as the man who betrayed his parents, murdered his friend, and was rightfully locked up in Azkaban - until he escaped and came after Harry! He attacked the portrait of the Fat Lady, and kidnapped Ron (breaking his leg in the process).
However, Sirius soon becomes a hero of the series. He is revealed to have been a true friend to Harry's parents, wrongfully imprisoned and fighting to save Ron and Harry from Peter Pettigrew. He is a member of the Order of the Phoenix and a staunch ally to to good side in the Second Wizarding War, and his death is one of the most heartbreaking in the franchise.
from ScreenRant - Feed https://ift.tt/3F34bTM
0 Comments