James again

[juli17 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 181360

Carol:


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.




Julie:
There's not a direct connection for me, but it was the one last opportunity for us to see James acting
in a particularly positive way on its own merit. I'm disappointed that JKR didn't give us even one single 
moment of James in an unequivocal positive light as an adult. Yes, Lily married him, so he must have
grown up. We know he saved Snape in the Prank incident, but with Snape's worst memory coming 
*after* the Prank, any concept of James suddenly seeing the light about his bullying behaviour at 
that point went out the window. And yes, he joined the Order, not the Death Eaters. Still..

How hard would it have been for JKR to give us one moment of James as an adult, protecting someone
as an Order member, sharing affection with Harry and Lily, having a thoughtful adult conversation with
someone, expressing his adult views or feelings--anything that would have given us an opportunity to
know the real James, and to make a connection with him?

It's unfortunate (IMO) that JKR neglected to do this, and we are left with trying to understand?James via
nothing but his teenage actions and heresay. It leaves him pretty much a cipher, a cardboard cutout.
Thus I can't say I dislke James, but I can't say I? like him either, since he remains a nonentity to me.

Julie 
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