Sirius' Mirror

[Tim]

No: HPFGUIDX 87624

Athena ("linda_mccabe" <lmccabe at s...>):
> I felt like it was there to be done to yank 
> tears from the reader, but as for me - it made me livid.  I thought 
> it was a terrible prop that did not fulfill its purpose.  That's 
> because I don't think it works with the characterization of Sirius 
> Black.
> 
> First off, if Sirius had such a magical device he wouldn't have 
> given it to Harry in the manner in which he did.  He knew that the 
> owl post and the Floo network was being monitored at Hogwarts.  
> There was no other way that the two of them could safely 
> communicate.  If the two way mirror worked the way that Sirius said 
> it did, then he would have given it to Harry and said, "Ten o'clock 
> tonight, find a safe secluded place and call out my name.  We'll 
> talk everynight and I'll even see if I can't help you a bit with 
> your homework."
> 
> Later when Harry went through the trouble of contacting Sirius by 
> Umbridge's fire, he should have said, "Harry, why didn't you just 
> use the mirror I gave you?  I mean, I think risks are fun and all, 
> but I did give you something so you could talk with me."
> 
> I just thought it was a terrible, terrible prop that I don't think 
> will come to bear later on like the gift knife from Sirius did. 


Tim speaks:

Linda, you have hit the nails on the head. It is totally out of 
character for Sirius not to ensure/encourage Harry to use the mirror. 
If its only purpose is to heighten Harry's pain, then this is a 
disservice to the reader and to the character of Sirius.  I mean 
really, never using the mirrors or finding a way to get Harry to use 
his is a big gaping hole in Sirius' character.

I usually wave off JKR's inconsistancies due to the fact she is writing 
a work for children. I do not hold her to the same standard I do to 
Tolkien.  This does not lessen my enjoyment of the books, but I do have 
to lower my expectations a bit.

Still it is possible that there will be a later justification for 
introducing the mirrors. 

Tim