An Argument in Favor of Sirius

[in_the_blue]

Rash. Reckless. Impatient. Leaps before he looks. Impossible. Haughty. No grip on reality. Can't tell Harry from James.

Can anyone point to an abundance of evidence in that shows us this is Sirius's true current-day nature? I'm not talking about the flashbacks; I'm talking about the way JKR presents him present-day in the books.

I'm the first to admit these: attacking the Fat Lady's portrait, attacking Ron's bed-hangings, and breaking Ron's leg. Sirius has not acted like an innocent man with these things, so says Dumbledore, and maybe he's right. After twelve obsessive years in prison he escapes to find Peter and yeah, he wants him and he wants him dead.

But once the whole Shrieking Shack incident is over, show me where Sirius does anything out of something other than concern for Harry? He is his godson's #1 fan. He's made himself available for parenting, for consultation, for support, for friendship. He does everything for Harry, even risking his own hide time and again to be nearer his responsibility--his godson.

In Goblet of Fire, he returns to the country because Harry's scar hurts. He risks breaking into a house to use the fireplace so he can visit Harry in the Gryffindor Common Room... to offer fatherly advice and help him with the dragon task.

He moves to Hogsmeade and lives in a cave and eats rats so that he can be closer to Harry, just in case Harry needs him.

He gives up his best defense--his Animagus form--so that he might be able to better help Harry.

In Order of the Phoenix, Sirius gives his ancestral home to Dumbledore for the Order, but does everything within his power to help Harry although, in a horribly sad twist of affairs, Harry seems to refuse most of the help Sirius wants to give him. Is Sirius edgy and sad and cranky and feeling trapped in Grimmauld Place? Yes. Does he want to go to Harry's Ministry hearing just to get out? No... he wants to go to show support for Harry. To show solidarity. To be a parent figure.

Does anyone acknowledge what Sirius is trying his best to do, against all odds? No... they call him rash and reckless and impatient and insane and unable to differentiate reality from fantasy.

I've stated before that it's my belief JKR went out of her way to make Sirius unappealing in Book Five because she'd already written him off; it's one method of grieving. There are numerous references to his lack of stability, but his actions don't demonstrate this. Does he want to get out and have a taste of freedom? Yes, of course. But does this mean that he's unaware of the gravity of his situation, or of the danger he's in?

I don't think so.

Instead, I think: anything but another prison. He's hopeful for a second escape. He's been kept under the control of others... hell, ladies and gentlemen, I'd want out too, wouldn't you? Maybe it's just the stuff that I have in common with this character, but... I'm extremely empathetic here. Sirius deserved a chance to live, and it wasn't until he made the ultimate sacrifice that he got his chance.

But I don't see him making an exit any other way. He did it while fighting for his godson. What JKR has yet to reveal about the veil remains to be seen. But for a tragic hero/knight in shining armor like Sirius, falling in battle is appropriate. Whether or not there's further plotting and movement of characters like so many chess pieces, I cannot divine.

Would that I could.

Comments

[chrysantza.livejournal.com]

I've stated before that it's my belief JKR went out of her way to make Sirius unappealing in Book Five because she'd already written him off; it's one method of grieving.

That's a good point. I know that as a writer I've sometimes "distanced myself" from a character if I know I'm going to kill him or her off. It is one way of grieving, and also dealing with, well, infanticide. (One's characters are one's children.)

I don't think that Sirius is perfect, but none of the HP characters (except maybe Lily at this point) are. He's flawed and human. But his love for Harry, IMO, is the most endearing and best facet of his character. I think one reason I was so sad when Sirius died was that I felt as if he never got a chance to be the man he could have been if he'd lived longer and healed his psyche. And if he'd married Abby Loomis, but that's a whole other story!

[in-the-blue.livejournal.com]

If Sirius were perfect, he wouldn't be nearly so interesting, don't you think?

Abby. I can think of a few other fanfic OCs he'd do well with, too.

I think his only canon chance is that Doris Purkiss person from the Quibbler article--when he comes back through the veil as Stubby, replete with band members and attitude.

And whoever else JKR sent him there to fetch back.

[erised1810.livejournal.com]

oh yes yes yes!{{{hugs}} this made my day complete. It's weird. I havea daily logn emai session with someoen whose mind you seem to share. And mostly I've heard these before and even in the same wordings but form her instead of you. I swear.
Agreed with everything. And oh for the reasons of her writing him in ootp like that. *gulp* reasonable but ouch, it's hard forhte readerto go through. makes it worse to see someone "go" after that when oh never mind...dont' get me started on THAT particualr ramble.
So heh, Thanks. {more hugs}

[in-the-blue.livejournal.com]

The only mind I share is with sosirius, I swear it's true. But feel free to send your friend this way; I always like to have an interesting discussion with like-minded people.

I have a few pretty good rants in here, but my favorite rant is one that we did after Order of the Phoenix... here (http://www.livejournal.com/users/sosirius/14094.html). Keep in mind that sosirius lives in something of an alternate universe (http://users.easystreet.com/sequoia/cave.html). But he's true to canon!Sirius in most ways and still, it's a good rant.