[HPforGrownups] Scene with likeable James WAS: Re: Eileen Pince

[Joe Goodwin]

No: HPFGUIDX 156372

horridporrid03 <horridporrid03 at yahoo.com> wrote:    
Betsy Hp:
In real life, yes, in a work of fiction? That's how it's done. 
Because the author gets to pick and choose what scenes she shares 
with us, so it's not really "five minutes in the life of". It's a 
key insight into various characters. In the case of the Mauraders 
it's the *only* insight, so far, that we've been allowed to see for 
ourselves. That this is the scene JKR chose to share should not be 
taken lightly.

   
Joe:
Sure but once we start applying real life judgments then don't we have to start taking it all together?


Betsy Hp:
So I questioned my husband about this (I'm betting there are quite a 
few guys out there getting similarly grilled -- I'm sure they're 
loving you, Joe ) and he disagreed that what James and Sirius do 
to Snape is normal highschool play. He also pointed out that any 
time a statement is made, "All guys __________", it's wrong. Too 
much individualism out there.
  
Joe:
I agree not all of them do it. I am saying that I imagine a lot of them do though.

   
Betsy Hp:
Also, just because we've been told that James and Sirius regularly 
hexed people doesn't mean that it's a good thing. The fact that 
they were punished so often for doing so is telling, IMO. I'd also 
say that what we see happen to Snape goes far and beyond a mere hex 
in the hallways. It was vicious, cruel and physically painful for 
Snape. Harry was put off (and actually thought his father capable 
of rape) for a reason after witnessing it. Harry, being a boy 
attending Hogwarts, should have a fairly good idea as to what 
consitutes normal boyish rough-housing at his school, and what goes 
above and beyond.
   
Joe:
I'm not saying James and Sirius hexing people is a good thing. I am saying it isn't the horror some might try and make it out to be.
   
Yeah Harry did misunderstand it but Harry lived under a cupboard when he should have been interacting with people his own age. He is behind on that sort of thing even after a few years at school.
   
  
Betsy Hp:
All that being said, of course we all know there's more to the story 
of James. He grows enough to be named headboy by Dumbledore, and he 
breaks out of Sirius's thrall enough to save two friends and one 
enemy from a truly gruesome fate. So yeah, we can't just write 
James off as an arrogant bully. There's more to him than that and 
hopefully we'll get to see it in book 7. But that doesn't mean we 
should white-wash this scene. It's there for a reason.
   
Joe:
I agree it is there for a reason and I don't think it should be white washed. I also don't think it should horribly blown out of porportion either.
   
Joe