[HPforGrownups] Re: A Defense of James Potter(Whose flaws are bigger)

[Christine Maupin]

No: HPFGUIDX 175327

 Prep0strus:
[snip]
>Well, here's why I care about James.  Not because he has had a tough
>childhood, because he didn't, or because he has interesting
>motivations, or an exciting personal storyline.  None of that is true.
>But I care because of what he meant to other characters that we see
>in our story.  I'd like to pull a little `It's a Wonderful Life' and
>imagine what life would be like for some characters if James had not
>existed.  
[snip]
>And if I were to dismiss James as an arrogant toe-rag, and wonder about
 >what kind of an idiot Lily had to be to marry him, then it takes away
 >a little from the other characters I like and respect.  It means that
 >the judgment of everyone else we've heard talk about him was wrong,
 >other than Snape.  Lupin, Dumbledore, Sirius
 they admit James'
 >faults, but love him and miss him and admire him anyway.  
[snip]

 Nice post Adam and I like your "It's a Wonderful Life" approach.  There are two events in James's life that I would like to add because I think they are true measure of the man -- in both, James rushed headfirst into danger with hesitation to save those he cared about.

The first was rushing after Severus when Sirius played the infamous trick on him.  Now, before everyone yells at me -- I'm not implying that James cared about Severus. (But, since he did fight on the "right side," I'm confident he cared about human life and, despite his bullying, wouldn't want to see Severus dead.)  No, I'm referring to the fact that James cared about Sirius and Remus.  Sirius is one of my favorites characters but I could just slap him upside the head for pulling that trick.  What if Remus in his werewolf form had injured Severus, turned him, or killed him, all of which were very real possibilities.  Imagine the guilt both Sirius and Remus, esp. Remus, would have to bear -- not to mention the legal ramifications.  What does the Ministry do to werewolves who injure or kill?  And, then there's Dumbledore, who allowed a werewolf to attend school in the first place.  And, Poppy who assisted Remus every month.  How would the trick affect their careers; would the
 Ministry hold them accountable?  It was stupid, stupid, stupid and incredibly dangerous -- and not for only Severus.  James saved three people that night.

The second was October 31, 1981: "Lily, take Harry and go!  It's him!  Go!  Run!  I'll hold him off--"  (POA, p. 240)  James rushed knowingly to his death (and in DH we find out without his wand), in an effort to warn his wife and give her a few extra moments to grab their son and get to safety.  Did James's death change anything or save anyone's life?  No.  Harry certainly has no doubt how much his dad loved him and his mum though (which appears to be more than the other two abandoned boys can say).

No matter what else one can say about James, good or bad, it would be hard to deny his courage and loyalty.  And based on Lily's letter, the photograph, and his death, he seems to have been a good husband and father; and, in my opinion, you can't pay a man a higher compliment than that.

Christy


 
       
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