James again

[Tom Kish]

No: HPFGUIDX 181388

> 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.


Whybnormal:

What everyone needs to remember is that every look that we get 
of the living James is through the eyes of Severus Snape. Of 
course things will be slanted to his point of view for one 
thing you never see anything that Snape may have done to 
provoke the dislike of James and the other Marauders. Now 
I'm not saying James was a saint but you have to remember 
there are always two sides to every story. What would happen 
if you were to look at Harry through Draco Malfoy's Eyes, 
especially before the fire at the end of DH? 


> Julie:
> 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. 
<SNIP>
> 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?
<SNIP>
 

Whybnormal:

Why should she?  What James actually did and didn't do as an 
adult is irrelevant to the story. We know Harry looks like his 
father and is like his father. So if Harry turns out to be kind 
hearted and selfless, then don't you think that maybe James was 
too? Just because James got into to trouble doesn't mean that 
he couldn't have those good qualities also.