Depth? Things to take on their face value (Was: Sirius' loyalty)

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 139883

> >>Betsy Hp:
> > But you're combining two different things, I think: taking JKR   
> > at face value and taking Sirius's statements at face value.  And 
> > frankly, you cannot do both.  

> >>Nora:
> But JKR's statement is that she *means* Sirius' statement, the one 
> specifically discussed here, at face value.  You absolutely cannot 
> get around that plain fact, much like the Ginny case.  I wasn't 
> referring to the other ones at all.  You pulled them in first.

Betsy Hp:
Actually, JKR wrote them, so she's the one who "pulled them in 
first".  And we were analyzing a character.  Taking bits and pieces 
of a character and ignoring other bits tends to lead to a faulty, or 
at the very least, a shaky conclusion.  (And this is why I think 
it's risky to build too much off of the interviews, especially if it 
encourages the ignoring of canon.)  

JKR doesn't say "Sirius would have died for Peter."  Actually, her 
interview response seems to indicate that Sirius would have died for 
James (and family).  Which is a bit different, IMO.  And also, 
strangely enough, a bit different from what Sirius actually said.  I 
*do* think Sirius meant what he said when he said it.  I just don't 
think it's something he'd have necessarily backed up in action.  
(Though I do think Sirius would have died for James.)

> >>Nora:
> <snip>
> When you take characters who you give a fairly small amount of    
> screen time, you can really shock readers with the revelation     
> model, and still make it work.  What if, for instance, we get a   
> memory scene of the Marauders acting very differently?  That's not 
> necessarily Out of Character, it's just up to the readers to      
> adjust our mental images.

Betsy Hp:
But the smaller the amount of "screen time" the larger the impact of 
every scene we do get to see.  And a competent author realizes 
this.  In fact, in that sort of situation you'd best give a hint of 
normal before throwing in abnormal so your reader gets a heads up 
that something is amiss.

Quirrell is a good example, I think.  We meet him rather briefly and 
he strikes the reader as a nervous and timid man.  But through 
Hagrid, JKR gives us a quick hint that all is not quite as it seems; 
his nervousness is a new thing.  So when his behavior changes at the 
end of PS/SS the reader isn't shocked.  Doesn't feel cheated.  

So I'll be *very* surprised if it turns out the Marauders were 
really led by Peter, James was actually a shy and retiring boy, 
Sirius was rather cautious and timid when it came down to it, and 
Remus was the campus stud. <g>

No, I think JKR gave us the "normal" for the Marauders, including 
pecking order, right up until the moment Sirius spotted Snape.  
(Actually, I think the only "abnormal" bit of that scene was that 
Snape was caught so unawares, but that's just IMO. <g>)

Betsy Hp