[HPforGrownups] Godparents...

[Neil Ward]

No: HPFGUIDX 17383

I said:

"As to Penny's question, I think a godparent could be seen a proxy guardian,
but grandparents, aunts and uncles (The Dursleys -
gaaaah!!!) would probably be considered first, and there is no legal bond
(unless specified)."

ANDREA:

<<True, but I thought that Sirius *was* specified legally as Harry's
guardian.  I don't have my copy of PoA with me right now, but Sirius says
something like, "Your parents wanted you to live with me if anything
happened to them.">>

AMY Z:

<<Yep--what James and Lily meant by "godfather" is anyone's guess
(religious significance?  or just a casual term for "all-around
 surrogate parent, giver of presents, and family friend"?), but that  they
meant Sirius to be Harry's legal guardian as well is crystal
 clear :

"But I'm also--I don't know if anyone ever told you--I'm your godfather."
"Yeah, I knew that," said Harry.
 "Well . . . your parents appointed me your guardian," said Sirius stiffly.
"If anything happened to them . . . " (PA 20)>>

****In response to Andrea, perhaps I should clarify that I was responding to
Penny's question about godparents in general terms.  I wasn't suggesting
that James and Lily might have considered the Dursleys (my reference to them
was implying "fat chance of them being appointed godparents").  I imagine
Sirius was their first choice...

Thanks for the quote, Amy.  I agree with your interpretation, that godfather
and guardian aren't necessarily the same thing here.  I do think godfather,
in this context, is not meant as a religious guide, and that the Potters
perhaps wished to give their close friend this somewhat honorary role as a
means of recognition that he was closer to them than their real relatives.
Giving him the status of godfather would also lessen the possibility of any
challenge to his potential guardianship of Harry, so the two things are, I
think, connected.

I guess if someone is "appointed" a guardian that does indicate a legal bond
(lawyers may correct me), but we don't know too much about wizarding law.
Perhaps it was one of those 'our word is our bond' situations with no legal
paperwork involved?  After all, he doesn't say he was appointed Harry's
"legal guardian" (IIRC).  This is me being pedantic, I think :-)


MORAG:

<<As I've said before, I think JKR studiously avoids religion in the books.
But the whole godfather thing has a magic/folklore antecedent.  <snip>  I
think it's Hagrid who is the Fairy Godmother - he has a very maternal nature
<snip> This is just an observation, not a criticism, but I think one reason
HP is so popular (apart from being wonderful, that is) is this
masculinisation of female archetypes. >>

****I  think you're right about JKR's avoidance of religion.  She does let
in references to things associated with Christianity, from a secular
viewpoint, but that is fairly typical of much of the British population.
Concepts such as 'godparents' and 'Christmas' are not presented in their
religious meaning, IMO, because it is possible to strip them of their
origins and leave only the 'comforting tradition' aspect.  British people of
other religions celebrate Christmas as a festival period, whilst observing
their own religious days, and JKR would be aware that references to
Christmas, for example, would not necessarily be alienating to people of
other religions.

I loved your point on the folklore origins of fairy godparents, and I think
you're absolutely right about Hagrid.  Sirius seems to be a Muggle-style
godfather to Hagrid's Magical-style godmother...

Neil
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