[HPforGrownups] SLashing the Fat Lady (was Re: Sirius and PTSD (A different view)

[shane dunphy]

No: HPFGUIDX 47408

Audra1976 wrote:
> > 3.) Slashing the portrait -- This was an aggressive reaction, but I 
>would like to point out that the portrait was only an object, and I 
>consider it to be the equivalent of breaking down a door. He was trying to 
>get to Peter, to defend his godson, whom he believed was in mortal danger 
>from Peter, which is a very apparent reason.


Sirius is a very complex character.  He has suffered a fantastic amount, and 
is riddled with guilt, anger, lust for vengeance and also an urge to 
over-compensate Harry for everything he has failed to provide over the years 
of his incarceration and Harry's miserable childhood with the Dursleys.  His 
actions reflect that.

I don't see the paintings as simply objects.  They appear to be sentient, 
have personalities - the Fat Lady hiding in embarrassment and shame after 
Sirius's defacement of her is evidence that, to her, this was a 
psychologically damaging event.  You often hear people saying after having 
had their homes burgled that they felt personally defiled, as if their home 
was no longer theirs.  The Fat Lady's reaction is to go and hide in her 
friend's picture.  This is a typical response.

Sirius is driven by extreme emotional responses to the experiences he has 
had.  He has suffered extremes of misery and pain, has endured major losses 
and has been betrayed by a close friend.  He blames himself as much as 
Pettigrew.  He admits this in the Shrieking Shack.  His behaviour is not 
consistent, but then, as has already been mentioned on the list, many 
people's behaviour is inconsistent.  Sirius seems to move rapidly from one 
extreme emotional state to another.  In the Shrieking Shack, he almost 
choke's Harry, obviously temporarily insane at the thoughts of being so 
close to his moment of revenge, and then having these children standing in 
his way.  Minutes later, on the way back to Hogwarts, he is asking Harry to 
come and live with him.  He shifts from being murderous to being paternal as 
easily as that.

I don't think that I need to point out the obvious parrallels between Sirius 
and Snape.  While their back-story pits them against one another from the 
very start, there are huge similarities.  Their responses to situations are 
not dissimilar, and their reluctance to bury the hatchet is also very alike. 
  Both have suffered, both are conflicted, both share a common bond: their 
relationship with Harry and their loyalty to Dumbledore.  We see both from 
Harry's POV, so of course Sirius comes off better.  He's Harry's god-father. 
  If we step back from this and look at the facts, we see that they are 
really much the same.

Shane.


_________________________________________________________________
Help STOP SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE*  
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail