Why did Malfoy lie to Bellatrix?

In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Harry and his friends are captured by a group of Snatchers, who are bounty hunters working for Voldemort. They are taken to Malfoy Manor, where Bellatrix Lestrange, a fanatical Death Eater and Voldemort's most loyal follower, interrogates them. She suspects that one of the prisoners is Harry Potter, but his face is swollen and distorted by a jinx cast by Hermione. She asks Draco Malfoy, her nephew and Harry's school rival, to confirm Harry's identity. Draco hesitates and lies, saying that he is not sure if it is Harry or not²³⁴.

Why does Draco lie? What are his motives and moral principles? How can we evaluate his decision from different philosophical perspectives?

Let us consider St. Augustine, a 4th-5th century Christian theologian and philosopher who influenced many aspects of Western thought⁷. Augustine developed a comprehensive view of human nature, sin, grace, free will, morality, and salvation⁷. He argued that human beings are created in the image of God, but they are corrupted by original sin due to Adam's disobedience in the Garden of Eden⁷. As a result, human beings are inclined to evil and unable to achieve true happiness and virtue without God's grace⁷. Augustine also distinguished between two types of lies: malicious lies and benevolent lies⁷. Malicious lies are those that harm others or oneself for selfish reasons. Benevolent lies are those that benefit others or oneself for good reasons. Augustine condemned all forms of lying as sinful, but he admitted that some lies are less evil than others⁷.

How would Augustine evaluate Draco's lie? One possible way is to say that Draco sinned by lying, but his sin was not as grave as it could have been. Augustine would say that Draco lied out of fear, not out of malice. He did not intend to harm anyone, but rather to protect himself and possibly Harry. He might have also felt some compassion or remorse for Harry, who had saved his life at Hogwarts. Therefore, Draco's lie was a benevolent lie, not a malicious one. However, Augustine would also say that Draco's lie was still wrong, because it violated God's commandment and the natural order of truth. Draco should have trusted God's providence and grace, and confessed the truth, even if it meant suffering or death. By lying, Draco showed a lack of faith and love for God, and a weakness of will.

Finally, let me look at Julius Caesar, a 1st century BCE Roman general and statesman who conquered Gaul and became the dictator of Rome. Caesar was not a philosopher in the strict sense, but he was influenced by various schools of thought, such as Epicureanism, Stoicism, and Skepticism. He was also a pragmatist and a realist, who valued action over speculation, and who adapted his beliefs and policies to the changing circumstances. Caesar was famous for his ambition, courage, charisma, generosity, clemency, and eloquence.

How would Caesar judge Draco's lie? One possible way is to say that Caesar would admire Draco's cunning and courage. Caesar himself was known for using deception and propaganda to achieve his goals. He also faced many dangers and enemies in his life, and he knew how to survive and overcome them. He might have seen Draco as a potential ally or follower, who could be useful for his own plans. He might have also respected Draco's loyalty to his family and his hesitation to betray his friend.

However, another possible way to interpret Caesar's view of Draco's lie is to say that Caesar would despise Draco's weakness and indecision. Caesar himself was decisive and resolute in his actions. He did not hesitate to cross the Rubicon and start a civil war against Pompey. He also did not spare his enemies when they opposed him or threatened him. He might have seen Draco as a coward and a traitor, who failed to support his cause and his leader. Therefore, depending on how we understand Caesar's situation and personality, we can either praise or condemn Draco's lie from a Caesarian point of view.

Draco Malfoy's decision to lie to Bellatrix about Harry being in Malfoy Manor in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" can be understood as a complex moral dilemma that reveals his inner conflict between self-preservation and loyalty, between fear and compassion, and between order and chaos.

(1) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Chapter 23 | Shmoop. https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/literature/harry-potter-7-deathly-hallows/summary/chapter-23 Accessed 3/14/2023.

(2) Why Draco Malfoy saved Harry Potter in Malfoy Manor. https://potterheadonline.wordpress.com/2015/09/01/why-draco-malfoy-didnt-tell-bellatrix-about-harry-potters-identity/ Accessed 3/14/2023.

(3) The chapter that made us fall in love with… Draco Malfoy. https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/chapter-that-made-us-fall-in-love-with-draco-malfoy Accessed 3/14/2023.

(4) Thomas Hobbes - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/hobbes/ Accessed 3/14/2023.

(5) Hobbes’s Moral and Political Philosophy - Stanford Encyclopedia of .... https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/hobbes-moral/ Accessed 3/14/2023.

(6) Hobbes, Augustine, and the Christian nature of man in Leviathan. https://www.medievalists.net/2014/02/hobbes-augustine-and-the-christian-nature-of-man-in-leviathan/ Accessed 3/14/2023.

(7) Why Draco didn't tell Bellatrix it was Harry in the mansion and why .... https://www.reddit.com/r/HarryPotterBooks/comments/hg90nv/why_draco_didnt_tell_bellatrix_it_was_harry_in/ Accessed 3/14/2023..