A James Rant - Who was This Guy?

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 181347

Carol:
<SNIP>
But it's not just that scene in SS/PS. Voldemort says it again in GoF,
something along the lines of "your father died fighting bravely." he
wants Harry to face him in a duel so that he can show the DEs that
Harry is no threat by killing him in front of them, but he doesn't
want to just murder him as he did Lily. So maybe he has a reason to
lie about James: he wants Harry to face him like a brave man. Or maybe
JKR just forget that she'd presented him, through Voldemort, as dying
bravely, not once but twice.

So for those of us who were looking for *something* to admire in James
were disappointed. All I got (and I speak for no one but myself) was
confirmation that Severus was right about him; he was an arrogant
bully from his first appearance on the Hogwarts Express.

Alla:

Right, I do not see the connection between the matter of his death 
and increasing or decreasing liking of him, as I said I find the way 
he died in book 7 touching and brave and tragic, whether he had his 
wand in his hands or not, in his last moment he was not thinking 
about himself.

I mean I guess I do see the connection  if that was the only reason 
for you ( or anybody) to like something in James if he had wand in 
his hands, I just do not agree with it.

Having said this, I do agree that especially in the second scene I 
see no reason for Voldemort to lie whatsoever. I mean, it is not like 
he needs anything from Harry here. Not to say that he cannot lie 
there, liar as he is, but I find it bizarre that he would lie again 
and the same thing as well. Nope, to me it sounds more like JKR 
emphacises the heroic fight James pulled and she does it it through 
Voldemort's eyes, because she cannot make Harry see it just yet (she 
does not want to show connection yet or whatever).

So, I guess I am back to square one, I will be plenty happy with how 
James 
died in book 7 - not everybody indeed gets a glorious death in war, 
but I wish it would be the SAME death. OY.

JMO,

Alla