Judging Characters (was:Scene with likeable James...)

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 156520

> >>Betsy Hp:
> > To understand James we *must* accept this scene as indicitive of 
> > an aspect of his character.
> > <snip>

> >>Random832:
> I think the statement that "JKR chose to show us this scene for a
> reason" contradicts the apparent attitude that she can _not_ have
> chosen the scene for a reason _other_ than to indicate what James'
> character is like.

Betsy Hp:
Is that being said?  Certainly JKR packs *tons* of stuff into the 
pensieve scene (something she's majorly good at doing, IMO) 
including the pecking order of the Marauders, some insight into the 
friendship between Sirius and James, insight into the enmity between 
Snape and the Marauders, a hint or two about how Lily figures into 
everything, and, yes, insight into James's character (and Snape's 
character, and Lupin's character, and Sirius's character, and 
Peter's character, and Lily's character).

Honestly, I think it'd be a mistake to try and figure out *any* of 
the characters in this scene while also dismissing the scene as 
inaccurate or exaggerated or (most improbably, IMO) out of character.

> >>Random832:
> Even if you don't personally accept the idea that Snape chose this 
> memory specifically so Harry would see (face it - if he _really_   
> didn't want him to see it, surely he doesn't think Harry is a     
> better Legilimens than Voldemort. And even if the penseive was
> necessary, why was it just out? Nevermind his motivations, the
> _mechanics_ don't support the idea that Snape was really trying to
> hide these memories from Harry, at least not without requiring him 
> to be stupid), "insight into James' character for the readers" is 
> _not_ the only option.

Betsy Hp:
I really, really don't agree that Snape meant for Harry to see the 
memory.  For one, Montague showing up and requiring immediate help 
was so random that Snape *couldn't* have planned for it.  So there 
was no reason for Snape to think Harry and the pensieve would ever 
be alone.  For another, Snape's anger seemed far too genuine, IMO.  
Also if Snape was playing some deeper game, JKR would have needed to 
write in a "tell" if she didn't want to be accused of conning the 
reader.  A gleam of triumph that Harry misinterperts, for example.  

I do agree that insight into James's character is not the *only* 
reason the pensieve scene was given to us.  But insight into his 
character is *definitely* one of the reasons.  

Betsy Hp