James and Sirius - "Coolness"

[sistermagpie]

No: HPFGUIDX 182666

> Mike:
> You're right on at least one count, I disagree with you about James 
> and Sirius. 
> 
> But I don't know about JKR, I don't think she wanted *us* to think 
> James and Sirius were "cool". I think she did her best (mostly in 
> SWM) to demonstrate that the Marauders were arrogant and that at 
> least James and Sirius were bullies. And I don't think JKR likes 
> bullies. I think JKR tried valiantly, though not always 
successfully, 
> to paint Draco as a bully so we would not like him, either. I say 
not 
> successfully because there were a LOT of Draco fans amongst her 
> readership, as there were many (including me) Marauder fans.

Magpie:
I think she thought they were cool. Sure she doesn't like a bully 
like Draco or Pansy, but she also doesn't give them any of the things 
she's describing as cool with the Marauders. They're obviously 
different. The problem with Draco isn't that he insults people or 
enjoys seeing them in pain. It's who and why he does those thing (and 
in the end it turns how he doesn't really naturally like that stuff 
as much as a lot of other characters too.) She agrees Sirius is the 
sexiest and he's right there bullying with James. Many people see the 
Twins as bullies too. I think there's an obvious difference between 
MWPP and Draco & Co., and only one group is cool.

The Marauders bullying is presented as forgivable imo. They were 
letting off steam against a kid they identified as a Dark Wizard. 
Sure James needed to "deflate" his head, but Lily already liked him 
in SWM and she's hiding a smile during the bullying itself. JKR 
indulges in plenty of similar stuff as an author as well at the 
expense of other characters. So yeah, I don't think JKR really sees 
MWPP as the bad kind of bullies--and I do think she makes the 
distinction. She kind of has to given the way good and bad breaks 
down in the book. The good guys are totally better at this sort of 
thing, which is part of what makes them cool.

-m