Character Bias, Objectivity, Similarities, Sondheim!

[va32h]

No: HPFGUIDX 175213

Montavilla47 wrote:
I think it's fine to want to see the best in people. What I find a bit
hypocritical, though (and I'm not directing this at you, but at the
general trend) is for either side to ignore the faults of their favorite
characters, or to insist that these faults are meaningless, while
insisting that the faults of the characters they disliked define
their characters.

va32h:

Yes, yes, thank you! I wholeheartedly agree. And in areas where canon 
is not clear, there is the tendency to interpret words and events in a 
way that reflects poorly on the hated characters and well on the 
beloved ones. Assumptions and extrapolations are made with the scantest 
of canon. Such as the James/Sirius conversation on the Hogwart's 
Express, which is not long enough or substantial enough to "prove" 
anything about Sirius' pre-sorting opinions of Slytherin house, but 
which both sides have used as "evidence" that Sirius is either a noble 
kid who desperately wants to leave his evil family or a pathetic loser 
who completely rejected his family in an instant for no other reason 
but to impress James Potter (who apparently wields some sort of 
Rasputin-esque power over everyone he befriends.)

We've had a plea for canon, how about a plea for objectivity?

I don't think it is any coincidence that Snape and Sirius are actually 
very much alike. Both fiercely loyal to a friend (Lily, James), both 
consumed with guilt over the role they played in that friend's death 
(Snape in telling the prophecy, Sirius in persuading James to change 
secret keepers), both sworn to a lifelong pursuit of vengeance (Sirius 
stays sane in Azkaban by focusing on finding and killing Wormtail, 
Snape keeps up his facade as spy by focusing on ensuring Voldemort's 
downfall). Both men were falsely accused of murder, both men are 
hopelessly mired in the past and unwilling or unable to put aside 
adolescent hurts. Both men ending up living as adults in the homes they 
hated as children. 

And Sirius and Snape, like Voldemort and like Harry, found their true 
home at Hogwarts. It is certainly no coincidence that Harry has so much 
in common with a disparate collection of characters: his own father, 
Voldemort, Sirus, Snape, Neville, Draco, Lupin, Hagrid. Harry comes to 
see that they are not so disalike after all, surely we are supposed to 
see that too. 

And what of other characters... Lily and Narcissa, both willing to defy 
Voldemort to protect their sons. (Both with sister trouble, too). 
Merope can't bear the loss of Tom Sr. and dies, abandoning her son. 
Tonks "couldn't bear not knowing" what is happening to her husband, and 
leaves her son behind as well. 

Dumbledore at 18 is much like Hermione at 18, brilliant and utterly 
convinced of that they are doing the right thing, no matter how 
questionable their methods. 

Ron and Regulus both know a thing or two about the pressure to conform 
to family tradition (as does Sirus. And Draco, come to think of it).

I am reminded of one of my favorite Stephen Sondheim songs, from one of 
my favorite Stephen Sondheim musicals "Into the Woods". I've always 
felt a connection between that musical and the HP series, and not just 
because there's a witch and a giant in both. 

But anyway, the song is "No One is Alone", and it's about understanding 
that our actions, our thoughts, our ideals, do not take place in a 
vacuum. And really, the entire song is such an apt commentary on Harry 
Potter, But the part I am specifically thinking of is:

"People make mistakes, 
Fathers, mothers
People make mistakes
Holding to their own, 
Thinking they're alone. 

Honor their mistakes
Fight for their mistakes
Everybody makes
One another's terrible mistakes"

We all are subject to the same collection of human faults and foibles. 
And yet we all think that we are the first and only ones to suffer in 
such a way. (Something Phineas Nigellus pointed out, with insight to 
rival Dumbledore's).

When we assign these faults and flaw to specific people, we isolate 
them, and ourselves. We must acknowledge our shared humanity, our 
shared imperfection. Their mistakes are our mistakes. We are not alone 
in our struggle to overcome them, and to find purpose and meaning in 
ourselves and our lives. 

The last line of the song is quite in keeping with the Epilogue of 
Deathly Hallows, and perhaps is appropriate to our concerns as readers, 
struggling to find the light in JKR's seemingly dark world. 

"Hard to see the light now,
Just don't let it go. 
Things will turn out right now,
We can make it so."


va32h