[HPforGrownups] Re: Sirius, Self-Absorbed? and Snape

[elfundeb]

No: HPFGUIDX 45932

In response to Jodel's statement that:

>Sirius is a throughly self-absorbed 
> individual, he is not of a forgiving disposition and he does not 
often choose to be put 
> in the wrong.

Orla Quirke and Marianne both asked what canon supports this assertion.

In writing my own post on whether Lupin suspected Sirius of being the spy before the Potters' deaths, I considered making the suggestion that he is self-absorbed, but decided against it.  

In my mind, the only evidence of Sirius' self-absorption comes, not from what we've seen of Sirius himself before we meet him in PoA -- because we've seen nothing, only heard explanations -- but from the application of generational parallels, which I think we as readers use, often subconsciously, to fill in the gaps in our understanding of the backstories involving Sirius' generation.  As it relates to James' and Sirius' prankstering, the text itself (PoA, ch. 10) encourages us to draw a parallel between J&S and the Twins ("such a pair of troublemakers" . . . "Fred and George Weasley could give 'em a run for their money").  Richelle's recent posts analyzing the twins provides plenty of support for concluding that Fred in particular is extremely self-centered.  I think one could make an argument that every nice thing Fred says or does for Harry in PoA is for the purpose of keeping his spirits up so Gryffindor will have a chance at winning the Quidditch cup. If I were comparing James and Sirius to the Twins, I would probably put Sirius in the Fred role and James in the George role.  It may not be much support, but the notion of Sirius as self-absorbed, at least in his youth, is not, IMO, uncanonical.

Still, I'd probably agree that Sirius is more impulsive than self-absorbed, or to use Lupin's phraseology, Sirius was too "carried away with his own cleverness" to consider the consequences. He is loyal to his friends unto death but that loyalty manifests itself in very destructive acts.  

Marianne also asked:

Directed to those who have strong love him/hate him feelings re: 
> either Severus or Sirius.  Don't you think it interesting that these 
> people see Snape as either bitter, mean-spirited, spiteful, and an 
> awful teacher or as brave, misunderstood, put-upon, but with his 
> heart always in the right place.  And, as for Sirius, people with 
> strong feelings either think he's arrogant, violent, mentally 
> disturbed in one way or another, or he's a brave, good man who's got 
> a genuine affection for Harry and would willingly give his life to 
> protect Harry?  And why is it that it seems to be these two 
> characters that cause the most intense feelings?

I'm not a Sirius fan (though my husband is), and I like Snape primarily because he is interesting and not because he is nice, but I think your description of both is about right (the good and the bad), except for Snape always having his heart in the right place.  To me, they are both bitter, mean-spirited (though Sirius is mostly mean-spirited about Snape and Pettigrew, and Snape, IMO, is meanspirited as a reaction to his own lack of popularity -- i.e., "if people don't like me why should I act as though I like them"), spiteful, brave, and misunderstood.  And both of them are there to protect Harry.  

Debbie
who prefers Lupin







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