DD and the rat (was:Re: Minerva McGonagall/Dumbledore)

[arrowsmithbt]

No: HPFGUIDX 115840


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Nora Renka" <nrenka at y...> wrote:
> 
> Oh, come now.  You've admitted yourself how much this situation makes 
> no sense at present, and how we don't really know what's going on.  
> WHEN we find out what happened, all my complaints about this point 
> potentially end in eating crow--but not until then.
> 

Kneasy:
I admit no such thing and never have done.
I do admit that we have incomplete information and that any theory
posted is quite likely to end up in the bin along with Phlogiston,
Aether and astrology. But that's what makes the game so much fun.
I'll read any theory presented, and for my taste the BANGier the better,
at least it shows that the fan is thinking about plot, character, causes
and outcomes. The fans I really don't understand are those few that 
accept that what is written on the page is as immutable, unchanging 
and as closed to re-interpretation and re-assessment as a "One Way" 
traffic sign. 'Cos it ain't. There're clues, red herrings, deliberate deception
and all that good stuff scattered throughout the books. Supinely
waiting to be told who's good, who's bad and why defeats the object
of the site.  Similarly, accepting *any* character at face value risks the
delivery (express) of a custard pie to the physiognomy. Mind you,  so
does the alternative, but at least one presents a moving target and a
bit of nifty footwork can sometimes work wonders.

I keep on pointing out (but apparently nobody reads that part), that 
being wrong *doesn't matter*, not from this computer desk anyway.
It's much more interesting reading opinions and seeing how they're
derived from canon - mind you, some of the posts would be a godsend
to someone writing a thesis on psychiatric pathology, but IMO it's all
part of life's rich tapestry.




> > The one that breaks limbs?
> 
> And then tries his best to make some apology for it, with the owl?
> 
> > The one that revels in bullying?

> Nora: 
> Are you going to equally condemn all characters who revel in 
> bullying?  Do you consider it a worse character flaw to do it as a 
> schoolboy, rather than an adult?
>

Kneasy:
Aren't we supposed to? Snape is the Boo!Hiss baddy schoolmaster,
Vernon's a bully, so's Dudders and he'll end up just like his dad.
Sirius was a bully as a teenageer and he is still at GP in OoP. Anyone
who contradicts him is brow-beaten or insulted. 

> > Kneasy:
> > The one named Black? (JKR's predilection for tying surname to
> > character is pretty pointed.)
> 
> The one that's also named after the brightest star in the sky?  The 
> shining point of light from the Black family?  The black sheep of the 
> Black family?  (You have to be complete, Kneasy--first and last name.)

Kneasy:
Well, Sirius is named from the Greek 'seirios'  hot; scorching. Though
it might be as well to remember that Sirius has a hidden companion -
Sirius B. Strange tales associated with it, too. 

> Nora:
> I'm in this case trying to flesh out your wildly incomplete picture 
> of canon, I think.  Just as you'd rightly probably object to 
> something that says "Snape is only a nasty teacher and has no other 
> depths", or "Oh, Dumbledore--wise and good and no mistakes", you're 
> being reductionist, too.  You're purposefully omitting all of the 
> good aspects of the character, while harping on the bad.

Kneasy:
Now play the game.
When I theorise I'm being fanciful or indulging in character  mutilation.
When I list canon I'm into reductionism.
Could it be, could it possibly be that you're having trouble finding
sufficiently strong canon refutation and are reduced to debating tactics?
I hope not.

What are the good parts of Sirius's character?
So  far as I can see there's just one - he loves, or says he loves James
and Harry. And that's it, is it? That makes up for everything else?
Not in my book. Loving one person and trying to kill another in revenge 
(or worse) does not a good person make IMO. Besides, I'm not so sure 
about him loving Harry as Harry - as JKR says he's transferred his love 
from James to Harry,  but does he recognise the difference? Could be he
loves the 'image', the concept of James and that's been transferred along
with his love. In OoP he does say that Harry may be less like his father 
than he thought.
 
Let's face it - Sirius *needed* Harry. Without his ties to Harry he was
nothing - without Harry he has no credibility and no influence; nobody 
would cross the road to spit at him. And he plays on it for all he's worth;
he wants the final say in what Harry knows, in what Harry does. I can't
think of a surer recipe for disaster.