Percy supported his superior at the Ministry. He *always* supports an authority figure. At school, it was Dumbledore. At the Ministry, it was first Crouch and then Fudge.
I suspect we're supposed to notice how Percy changed his view of Dumbledore from "best wizard in the world" (PS/SS) to "best avoided, Harry, I have to say" (OotP). The last is paraphrased, as I don't have my copy of OotP with me. However, it is a 180-degree turn which suggests that Percy doesn't have any firm opinions of his own, he'll just go along with the group he perceives to be "in charge". This isn't a good sign.
He is frightfully willing to be a sheep, but then so are most of the people in the Wizarding World.
Does that make him any better? Should he be called to account for supporting Umbridge, would an argument of "Everyone else went along with it!" serve to justify him? Depends - we might just cut him some slack, as he's so young - but we all know that "sheep mentality" isn't the highest one can aim for in life.
Percy is also the one who noticed Ginny was upset in CoS, and the one who jumped in to help Ron out of the lake after Harry rescued him in GoF. He loves his family, he just disagrees with them completely about what is important.
Well, to be fair Percy seemed just as concerned that she was going to let out his secret (that Ginny caught him kissing Penelope Clearwater) as he did about her personally, but that's a very good point about Percy rushing down to the water to see how Ron was. Perhaps that will ultimately redeem him in spite of his current record!
If the rules are wrong and cruel, does following them unquestioningly make you a "good" person?
No, it doesn't neccessarily make you good. If you haven't examined your motives, you're not 'good', you're just compliant.
However, if the rules are wrong and cruel, does breaking them unquestionally make you a good person?
Nice one! :-) I wish we could see an example of the Twins breaking a rule which ended up having serious, long-term consequences. Some amazing sixth-sense (or authorial wish) has ensured that every time F&G break a school rule it turns out to have harmless or positive consequences. Rather like much of Harry's career, in fact, where the only harmful mistake was the Occlumency business (and even that mistake can be put down to Dumbledore in the end). JKR does seem to like her rebels.
Re: Devil's Advocate Time
Percy supported his superior at the Ministry. He *always* supports an authority figure. At school, it was Dumbledore. At the Ministry, it was first Crouch and then Fudge.
I suspect we're supposed to notice how Percy changed his view of Dumbledore from "best wizard in the world" (PS/SS) to "best avoided, Harry, I have to say" (OotP). The last is paraphrased, as I don't have my copy of OotP with me. However, it is a 180-degree turn which suggests that Percy doesn't have any firm opinions of his own, he'll just go along with the group he perceives to be "in charge". This isn't a good sign.
He is frightfully willing to be a sheep, but then so are most of the people in the Wizarding World.
Does that make him any better? Should he be called to account for supporting Umbridge, would an argument of "Everyone else went along with it!" serve to justify him? Depends - we might just cut him some slack, as he's so young - but we all know that "sheep mentality" isn't the highest one can aim for in life.
Percy is also the one who noticed Ginny was upset in CoS, and the one who jumped in to help Ron out of the lake after Harry rescued him in GoF. He loves his family, he just disagrees with them completely about what is important.
Well, to be fair Percy seemed just as concerned that she was going to let out his secret (that Ginny caught him kissing Penelope Clearwater) as he did about her personally, but that's a very good point about Percy rushing down to the water to see how Ron was. Perhaps that will ultimately redeem him in spite of his current record!
If the rules are wrong and cruel, does following them unquestioningly make you a "good" person?
No, it doesn't neccessarily make you good. If you haven't examined your motives, you're not 'good', you're just compliant.
However, if the rules are wrong and cruel, does breaking them unquestionally make you a good person?
Nice one! :-) I wish we could see an example of the Twins breaking a rule which ended up having serious, long-term consequences. Some amazing sixth-sense (or authorial wish) has ensured that every time F&G break a school rule it turns out to have harmless or positive consequences. Rather like much of Harry's career, in fact, where the only harmful mistake was the Occlumency business (and even that mistake can be put down to Dumbledore in the end). JKR does seem to like her rebels.