OOP: James( was:Two-way Mirror and other frustrations)

[fitzchivalryhk]

No: HPFGUIDX 64148

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "M.Clifford" 
<valkyrievixen at y...> wrote:
> Not Really. Is my answer to your question.
> I hadn't proposed that the remark, of Snapes, was a justification 
> for James actions,

You said :
"James earned a degree of repect for this: his spite was directed
at someones choice to hate, not merely someones inability to defend 
themself, as was Snapes attack on Lily."

I say : 
If you say someone earn respect because of his choice of victim for 
bullying, I think it is close to justifying his action of bullying.

Besides, when was Lily unable to defend herself? I think she is very 
capable of defending herself, given her brave display in arguing with 
the Mauraders.

> However, trying hard to look at the 
> practicable situation unfoggily, Snape was a target for *existing*.
> There is definite overtones of Severus personifies a thing that 
> shouldn't exist, in that statement. Which is the crux of my 
> argument. 


I agree that in James mind, Snape did personify something that should 
not exist. However, we can have many interpretations of what that 
particular thing is. You interpreted it as "Snape being a bigot". I  
interpret it as "Snape being greasy haired", "Snape being in 
Slytherin" ,  "Snape being Snivellus" or just that "Snape being 
weaker than James himself".

However, during the time when James was bullying Snape, we did not 
see him or Sirius insulting Snape using terms like "bigot scum" 
or "racist pig", we saw James/Sirius insulting Snape with the 
terms "Snivellus", "greasy hair smudging his papers" etc, which makes 
you think, what was more important in Jame's mind, Snape being a 
bigot, or Snape being the greasy Snivellus.

<snip>
> I am sure it will, in future books, become evident why James was 
> such a beast to Severus. 

I hope JKR shows why James was bullying Severus too. 

>I am supposing that it is also likely we 
> will see how James came to care for him at some later stage, and 
> recognise him as a human with feelings.
> Though, of course, remembering that Lupin said he still secretly 
> taunted Snape in seventh year the latter situation is unlikely, 
IMHO 
> to be truly redeeming for Severus' character. 

Hmm.. I never think that Snape's facing bullying at school 
can "redeem" Snape, but instead, what Snape chose to do after he 
decided to leave the DE.

> Whereas James' character is rather more redeemed by his selfless 
> protection of Boy Severus from his dangerous friend and in doing so 
> his defiance of his dearest mate Sirius.

Whereas Snape's character is rather more redeemed by his selfless 
spying for the Order of Phoenix, and protection of Boy Harry Potter  
and in doing so his defiance of his former  master Voldemort.

Fitz.