Magic: Entertaining or Ethically Questionable?
Magic is great. There are plenty of spells and potions I would love to use. However, magic isn’t always ethical. There are several potions and spells that, in the wrong hands, could be abused.
One of the most ethically questionable concoctions is Amortentia. The love potion is essentially a date rape drug. Once this elixir is consumed, the drinker becomes infatuated and obsessed with the object of their affections.
There are two instances in the series where we are aware of Amortentia being used. One such occasion was when Ron accidentally ate spiked Chocolate Cauldrons. The scene is one of the most comical ones in Half-Blood Prince. Despite the hilarity, the consequences were quite severe. Ron, high on Amortentia, abandons his priorities and almost breaks up with Lavender. In addition, his ingestion of the potion inadvertently leads to his almost-fatal poisoning.
The other episode involving Amortentia is when Merope Gaunt uses it on Tom Riddle Sr.
Very good. Personally, I am inclined to think that she used a love potion. I am sure it would have seemed more romantic to her, and I do not think it would have been very difficult, some hot day, when Riddle was riding alone, to persuade him to take a drink of water” (Half-Blood Prince 213).
This incident led to the conception of Voldemort. Shortly after Merope got pregnant, she stopped giving Tom Riddle the love potion, and he left her soon after. Clearly, he would never have gotten involved with her had he been in his right mind.
The disturbing fact is that Amortentia is not illegal. Students are even taught how to produce it, and love potions can be easily found in shops.
Another ethically questionable piece of magic is the truth-telling potion Veritaserum. In the right hands, it could be used for all sorts of noble reasons, like clearing Sirius’s name. On the other hand, it can also be an invasion of privacy such as when Umbridge attempted to use it on Harry to obtain Dumbledore’s and Sirius’s locations.
The last piece of immoral magic I would like to look at is the Imperius Curse. Although it is the least harmful of the three Unforgivable Curses, it is one of the more powerful and malicious spells in the wizarding world. The spell can be fought off, but it is extremely difficult to do so. Those who can’t resist it are forced to do the caster’s bidding and are powerless to stop them.
Total control,” said Moody quietly as the spider balled itself up and began to roll over and over. “I could make it jump out of the window, drown itself, throw itself down one of your throats” (Goblet of Fire 213).
There are several other ethically questionable spells and potions out there, but I think these three are the worst. Being forced to do someone else’s bidding is unthinkably awful.
What do you think of these unethical potions and spell? Are there any other pieces of magic you think are ethically questionable? Let us know in the comments!
