OoP: I'll do it: In defense of James (spoiler)

[oz_widgeon]

No: HPFGUIDX 62747

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Shaun Hately" <drednort at a...> 
wrote:
> On 24 Jun 2003 at 5:26, Brigitte wrote:
> 
> > The truth is James grew up to be an amazing person that he would 
lay 
> > down his life for his wife & his child.  He obviously grew up.
> 
> The thing is - is that that big a deal.
> 
> Vernon Dursley would apparently do the same.
> 
> "Uncle Vernon clearly thought Mr Weasley was mad, too. He moved 
ever so slightly to 
> the right, screening Aunt Petunia from view, as though he thought 
Mr Weasley might 
> suddenly run at them and attack." (Goblet of Fire, Australian 
printing, p 45)
> 
> In the Potterverse, even Uncle Vernon seems to have the instinct to 
protect those he 
> loves - and he's not a nice guy.
> 
> I'm not sure we can make much judgement about James based on the 
fact he was 
> willing to die for his family.
> 
> 
> 
> Yours Without Wax, Dreadnought

Conversely though, can we make such a judgement that James was *not* 
a good person based on *one snippet* of his 15 year old self?  I mean 
I'd hate for someone to judge the adult I've become based on a few 
minutes of my bratty, spoiled, selfish 15 year old self.  I know I 
did rotten things that I'm not proud of (and that even though I'm now 
30 my parents will never find out about), but that doesn't mean I 
didn't outgrow it.  It's possible the same can be said of James.  
Lupin even comments that by his 7th year James had deflated his head 
and stopped hexing everyone just because he could (except Snape of 
course).  Yes, we know they hated each other 'just because' and I 
certainly don't defend what James did in the memory (it was rotten), 
but I don't think we can use that as a basis for his whole 
character.  

Oz