Character Summary - Sirius (is sexy) Black

[msl at fc.net]

No: HPFGUIDX 13522

> 
> 1. How did he survive with his brain intact in Azkaban all those 
> years?

I imagine that Sirius is a good existentialist & figured out a way to 
use his innate psychological freedom to react to bad circustances in 
a productive way.  Which is not to say that he is unscarred or 
unaffected, but he must have found a way to transcend the trap of 
assuming, "It's my willpower vs. the power of the dementors."  I 
think that most people in Azkaban try to survive on sheer willpower 
alone, which is why they crumble as soon as their strength fails.  
(Of course, having vast resevoirs of will power wouldn't hurt either.)

> 2. Do you think volatility is a character trait or a symptom?

A little of both.  I imagine that Sirius was still rather a wild guy 
at the time of the murder of James & Lilly--still enjoying his 
bachelorhood, riding around on flying motorcycles, etc.  But 
those "unstable" traits would be emphasized right after escaping from 
Azkaban, especially if he went from Azkaban straight to living in the 
wilderness.

> 3. Would he really make a good parent to Harry or would that 
> relationship falter if it was too close (so far Sirius has been 
> there for advice but hasn't had to play an authority figure to 
> Harry yet)?

I think Sirius would do a fine job.  1) He's humble enough about his 
relationship to Harry that he wouldn't put on Snapish or Dursleyesque 
airs.  2) Harry is a pretty mature boy with lots of serious things to 
preoccupy his mind, so he's probably not going to provide the kinds 
of headaches one associates with stereotypical "wild-child" 
teenagers.  3) Harry's a teenager, not an infant, so he won't require 
round-the-clock care, something Sirius might not be suited to at all 
at this point.

> 4.  Why do a large part of the HP fandom think he's sexy (besides 
> the fact that JKR said so...actually when asked if he was supposed 
> to be dead sexy, JKR said yes.)?  What is it about his personality 
> that is or is not attractive?

In my mind's eye, Sirius looks like a rather dishevelled (sp?) 
Gabriel Byrne or even the young Harrison Ford--a tall, dark, lean, 
rawboned kind of guy.  With deep, dark, haunted eyes.  He seems to be 
a straightforward, no-nonsense kind of fellow, the sort of person who 
wouldn't fiddle-faddle around with you...rakish, romantic, 
adventurous, but not trifling or clingy.  What's not to like?

Marvin Long
Austin, Texas