[HPforGrownups] Trusting characters Re: bullies? twins, padfoot and prongs

[Magda Grantwich]

No: HPFGUIDX 118893

> Kim asks:
>  
> I notice a theme of irresponsibility, also stupidity, running
> through this thread.  Does anyone else notice irresponsibility or
> stupidity on the part of James and Sirius in that they trusted
> Peter with the secret in the first place?  Peter is one of the last
> people I'd have trusted with a life or death secret.  But 22 year
> olds may not have been wise enough to see that their friend of many
> years was also a potentially untrustworthy, disloyal brown-noser. 
> Was that the failure of James' and Sirius' arrogance, perhaps?  Or
> maybe desperate times called for desperate (or foolish) measures,
> so they took a chance with Peter, and lost? 


I hesitate to use words like "irresponsible" or "stupid" because
people get very emotional about what they perceive as an attack on
Sirius and James or as doubting the intensity of their feelings about
saving the Potters or fighting Voldemort.  

But I do think that JKR means us to take a good look at how
characters perceive things including each other, to look beneath the
surfaces and think about whether something is really true or whether
its just wishful thinking.

I also think that there are similarities sprinkled throughout the
series that help us think about characters and their relationships. 
For instance, we know by now that James and Sirius were very, very
close.  Finish-each-others-sentences, closer-than-brothers,
bestest-mates-for-all-time close.  It's very inspiring to have that
kind of friendship.

But what does that mean in practice?  At a minimum, I would suggest
it means that you get very good at filtering out other people's input
because the two of you have already agreed on something and other
people just don't understand the situation or aren't as bright as the
two of you are.  Sort of like George and Fred, who are another double
act that doesn't seem to need anyone else when they decide to do
something or pick a course of action.  

You can get very caught up in your own talents and intelligence, both
of which you've received positive feedback for almost since forever
and both of which have enabled you to enjoy good marks, an active
social life etc. etc.  But you sort of forget that although you're
quite intelligent, there's more to good judgement than IQ; there's
also experience, and discretion, and carefully second-guessing
yourself so that you aren't making a mistake.  And these latter
qualities come with age and maturity.

And this is where James and Sirius fell down.  They didn't let anyone
else into the closed circle of their confidence (if Remus was
considered a possible traitor and spy, then it's a sign that there
was some kind of distance since Hogwarts), and they didn't subject
their assumptions to the severe tire-kicking that was needed in such
a (literally) life and death matter.

They assumed they knew Peter and that he would die for them as they
would for him.  (Personally I think Sirius tosses that phrase around
far too loosely but I believe he is sincere about it.)  We don't know
how they came to this conclusion but they did believe it or James
would never have agreed to put the safety of his wife and child on
the line.  

Had James and Sirius been 32 rather than 22, they would not have made
that mistake.  Not only because they would have had more experience
of the world and recognized Peter for what he was (an unworthy
receptacle of their trust) but also because they would not have
casually assumed that even good friends can be trusted to die for
each other, that something that serious should not be pledged
tritely, and that double-checking and second-guessing are Good
Things.  

Again, I suggest we haven't yet truly appreciated Peter's (possibly
sole) talent for reading people properly and pushing their buttons to
get them to do what HE wants.  Peter is a hell of an actor.

Magda


		
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