ANTIVIRUS - humble attempt of building a ship

[festuco]

No: HPFGUIDX 129207

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Shanoah Alkire"
<Arcum_Dagsson at c...> wrote:


> The first time we see him, he is sleeping on the train, arguably
> sleeping on the job. He hasn't really spent any time on his appearance
> (surely he could have bought a new set of robes for the first day, or
> at least a less used set!), and doesn't appear to be taking care of
> himself.

Gerry
Well, I'd say his 'sin' was poverty. Robes cost money, and according
to Harry he looked like a person who could use a few good meals. If
you cannot afford decent food, how can you afford robes? Sloth would
be if he were dirty, unwashed. Not looking very, very poor, tired and
underfed. 

Let's say what the book actually says (Poa, Bloomsbury hardcover
edition, p 59): The stranger was wearing an extremely shabby set of
wizard's robes which had been darned in several places. He looked ill
and exhausted. 

I'd say the reason he was sleeping was that he was ill and exhausted.
Nothing wrong with that. As for the robes, they were darned, so he
obviously has taken the trouble to keep them in as good a state as he
can afford. Darning costs time and effort. Look at the description of
his suitcase: 'small, battered case held together with a large
quantity of neatly knotted string.' 

If JKR had wanted to describe sloth, his robes would have had holes,
the string would not have been neatly knotted. JKR does a very good
job of describing poverty. 

> 
> We also find out that he is a friend of Harry's dad, who has never
> bothered to let him know he exists, visit, send presents, check on his
> wellbeing, etc, for the last 13 years, even after Harry found out
> about the wizarding world.

Just like every other friend of Harry's dad, or mum for that matter. 
> 
> He then goes through the whole year sitting back and not doing
> anything, sitting on the information that a dangerous mass murderer on
> the loose is an animagus, much as he sat back and did nothing during
> his time in school while James & Sirus harassed Snape, and Sirus
> crossed the line to attempted murder.

Gerry
That is not sloth. Weakness of character in these respects, yes, I can
see that. But not sloth. 

Another reason he kept his mouth shut is that subconciously something
had been nagging him about the whole Black as a traitor idea. I can
easily imagine that part of him just could not believe that the
official version was true. I can imagine him hoping to confront Black
himself, because he needed to know. 

> 
> Admittedly, some of this can be attributed to circumstances
> surrounding him, but he has shown a pattern of being a good man who
> does nothing. Not that I dislike him: I'd see a lot of the sloth on
> his part as stemming from severe depression. 

Gerry
Sloth is lazyness. Knowing you should make an effort, but not
bothering to do so, out of unwillingness, not lack of ability. 

Remus has weaknesses. He is a very friendly character who wants to be
liked, and who lives in extremely difficult circumstances. He is also
very loyal. Sloth, no. 

Gerry