Scene with likable James

[puduhepa98 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 156284

 
 
 
 
wynnleaf
> <SNIP>
> > I'm curious as to why JKR has  given us just one big scene with 
James
> > and that he's sooo awful  in the scene. Sure we see a sort of 
shade of
> > James at the end  of GOF, but it's not really even him -- DD says 
it's
> > not even  his ghost. We don't actually get a scene with a 
likable 
>  >James.
> 
> >
wynnleaf
<snip>
What I meant was that it's curious that JKR  has only given us this 
one scene that actually has James in it -- action,  dialogue, etc. -- 
and it's a scene where he comes off as unambiguously a  bully, acting 
in this very cowardly manner by hexing someone without  provocation, 
then hexing and insulting a person already at his  mercy.
<snip>-- I really wondered what JKR wants 
us to feel about  James? She *tells* us admirable things through the 
memories of other  characters, but she *showed* us a bully. 
Nikkalmati:
 
You have brought up a very interesting point about JKR and her way of  
writing.  This scene really hits the reader in the gut.  After all the  build up of 
James being this great guy, we see this?  After seeing Dudley  harass and 
pummel Harry, we see this from his father?  What a shocker, and  it is typical of 
JKR to turn our impressions upside down and shake us (and  Harry) up.
I can believe that teenaged boys can be aggressive (what are sports for  
after all? <g>), but not all are bullies.  There was a thread several  months ago 
about how horrible this experience would be for a teenage boy  (Snape).  
Someone mentioned the worst humiliation for a boy this age  is to be "pantsed" and 
this is what is about to happen in the part we don't  see.  Also, having a 
girl come to your rescue would be humiliation in  turn.  There is no way to 
"spin" this scene as positive for James and  Co.  JKR even lays it on thicker by 
telling us he hexed other people in the  halls and we know he probably has a 
drawer to himself ,or shared with Sirius, in  Filch's office.   What kind of 
excuse does Sirius give Harry?  He  says something like - he grew out of it 
(except for Snape, of course).  
 
I think JKR likes to shatter our conceptions of people in her  books.  I 
expect more of these revelations in Book 7.  It is part of  the excitement and 
suspense of reading HP.  She wants also to show that  James was human, but why no 
balancing with a good scene of some  kind?  I believe his having witnessed 
the memory in the Pensieve will help  Harry in Book 7 to reconcile with Snape in 
some way.  He did have a  momentary sympathy for Snape and  think JKR will 
use this memory and also  sympathy for Draco to bring Harry to a more tolerant 
and inclusive view of the  world, before he smashes LV to a pulp 
 
Nikkalmati (who is sorry she did not include a subject line to her last  
post, but is forgetful and doesn't know how to recall and repost.) 




 




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