JKR's writing in OoP (was Re: Sirius's Future)

[cat_kind]

No: HPFGUIDX 117973


> annegirl11:
> >> I'm going to make an extreme statement here: Sirius' death was 
> bad writing. Sirius' story is so ridiculously, over-the-top tragic 
> that killing him at the pit of his depression is a cop-out. It's 
> soapy, it's lazy writing, and it's a waste of a complex, 
> interesting character.

catkind now: I'm not entirely disagreeing with you here, but I think
Sirius was not at the pit of his depression. He'd been let out of
12GP, he was joining in the fighting, just like he wanted.  There is
closure there if you want it: "some things are worth dying for"
declaims Sirius to the Weasleys (not an exact quote). It's not exactly
over-dramatic, either.  One moment he's there, the next he's gone, we
don't really realise what's happened, especially after the DEs showing
such cartoonish incompetence at killing anyone up to this point.

As for complex and interesting characters - well, we don't exactly
have a shortage do we? (*ducks missiles from Sirius fans*)

> annegirl: 
> The point I'm trying to make is that if JKR had a plan for the 
> significance of Sirius' death, she didn't pull it off. As a reader, 
> I was not convinced that Sirius' death impacted Harry in some 
> positive, life-lesson way. Cedric's death impacted me in a dramatic 
> way; Sirius' was contrived and obvious. <<

catkind now:  Why do deaths have to be significant or life-lessons?
They aren't in Real Life, perhaps that is the point JKR was trying to
make? No, Sirius' death doesn't make much sense, and that's exactly
why I think it might be well written after all.   

> Carol: We're, in a VERY basic way, in the same situation we were in
at the 
> end of GoF...LV is back and we have to fight him.  Yes?  

catkind now: Hi Carol. Well, not exactly the same situation:  we've
come forwards in the sense that the Ministry is now admitting to the
problem, and in that Harry has learned to work with people other than
Ron and Hermione.  
I agree that OotP is odd and jumpy and frustrating and plotless. Then
so's being fifteen years old. Significant?

catkind