James and Intent

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 186989

Montavilla47:
That doesn't sound very different from anyone else, including people
like Lucius and Narcissa. They are cruel or indifferent to people outside
their particular circle. A circle which includes a werewolf and a mass-
murderer.

Also people that many others would shun. <SNIP>

Alla:

To me the difference is that the people with whom Narcissa and Lucius keep company would be shun by most people because they are criminals first and foremost, and people with whom James kept company would be shunned for completely different reasons.


Montavilla47:
<SNIP>
The disconnect comes from Hagrid (and others) speaking about James
as if he were the greatest guy in the world--when we can see very
clearly that he wasn't.

Alla:

We can't see? I think some people and some people cannot see that.

I do not think even Hagrid talks about him as greatest guy in the world, just the good guy and that I can definitely see, which of course does not mean that he was only good all the time.

Montavilla47:
<SNIP>
But, I like that James and Lily *aren't* the saints that were depicted in
that statue in Godric's Hollow. It's natural for people to only tell
Harry the nice things about their parents and leave out the flaws--
and I'm glad that we got to see them as fairly ordinary, flawed human
beings in the end. <SNIP>

Alla:

Well, sure. Funny thing is I come to like care about James **only** after I saw SWM. No, not because I liked what he did in there, but because it gave him a flaw. Before that he was just that, a Saint to me and not the character I cared for at all.

Montavilla47:
<SNIP>
James wasn't particular good either. But, he chose the side that
would make him a hero and it did. Same with Lily. <SNIP>

< BIG SNIP>
That helps him to (eventually) understand that "epitome of
goodness" Dumbledore was severely flawed, and that severely
flawed Snape was good and courageous, too.

Alla:

It is of course your right and privilege to decide that James was not particularly good, but I cannot help but be amused at the choice of words there. And I did not mean to disrupt the meaning here, I deliberately cut everything else out just to see the contrast between James and Snape.

James, whom we see act as a bully to Snape once was not particularly "good" but only chose the right side. Snape, who was at some point a member of gang of criminals, who is guilty of being complicit in three deaths at least, who mistreated Harry for years (to me abused), who as a death eater could have done god only knows what is "good" though, but severely flawed.

As I said, I cannot argue with interpretation, but I cannot help but wonder how the guy whose only offense was bullying scene deserves the description "good but flawed" any less than Snape.

To each their own indeed.

JMO,

Alla