(no subject)
Mm kay, I've got a drink in my hand, a rat in my lap (Emma says: "Hi."), and I'm ready to start my rant. This is the one that I've had saved up for awhile now, and let out in small increments at various forums every now and then, but never have put the full-blown, spittle-flying rage that this topic sends me into in a whole, concise format before.
So, I bring you: Why I absolutely, positively LOATHE Sirius Black.
It's quite simple really. He's a selfish, conceited little prick who never matured past the age of fourteen. I have to break down my reasons for hating him into smaller pieces of the whole, otherwise this will turn into an ugly, block paragraph of doom real quick.
The flashbacks: It's obvious that he and James were a couple of jerks. Hell, even Harry admits that. They're so puffed up on their own self-importance that one of them's own son is forced to admit that he's an ass.
The thing is, I wasn't surprised at all. A few of Snape's comments lead us to believe that James and Sirius were vain in their youth, and something about Sirius rubbed me the wrong way from the start. I just knew he was one of the nasty, popular boys in school before we even saw the memory in the Pensieve.
The flashbacks themselves revealed a lot about his character. He and James saw Snape walking past and deliberately sought to antagonize him. James disarmed him, but it was Sirius who dangled him in the air, humiliating him. Gee, golly... when was the last time we saw a group of people dangling others upside down in the air? Oh, right.
The reunion: After over a decade of false imprisonment in Azkaban, the deaths of his best friends, untold psychological torment, and starvation the first thing Sirius does when he sees Snape again is to fall back on old habits. "Snivellus." He repeatedly uses the slur in every subsequent meeting between them.
This may seem small, but I think it's an important point. Sirius never matured past his school days. Even with all he's been through, he can't overcome a simple, schoolboy grudge. It's pathetic, really.
Harry: One of the things that really set my teeth on edge was when Sirius ridiculed Harry for not rushing out into danger based on sketchy information. The exact quote is: "You're a lot less like your father than I thought," he said finally, a definite coolness to his coice. "The risk would've been what made it fun for James."
He said this to a fifteen year old boy. I just... That floored me when I first read it. That a grown man would goad a teenage boy into risking his life by using the painful memory of his dead father. What. An. Ass.
Forshadowing: I think it's always important to note the significance of who the author has say what. Hermione, who has almost always displayed good judgement, and a sound grasp of other people's character, is the first to doubt Sirius. She says that she isn't sure they should trust his judgement. This is a very important turning point, where Harry is forced to realize that not everyone thinks that Sirius hangs the moon.
The Whomping Willow: Lastly, and most importantly, I come to my final point. I am well aware that most of the previous points could also apply to other characters that I like. Snape can be petty and immature, taking his schoolboy personal issues with Harry's father out on Harry. And Draco is a conceited bully, as well.
However, this last point is the main drive behind the Sirius Hate Express that goes choo-choo'ing through my brain every time I see his name. The events that unfolded at the Whomping Willow prove that Sirius was a selfish, callous asshole who JKR, despite her best efforts, cannot pass off as a good person to anyone with a shred of common sense.
Sirius Black planned and executed what would have led to the murder of a fellow student, had James not intervened. He did this for no other reason than that the other boy annoyed him. His weapon of choice in this matter was his best friend. He would have used Lupin to kill Snape, regardless of how it would have devastated Lupin after he regained human form. He did not consider the feelings of a person he professed to consider a friend when using him as a means to an end. An end that would have resulted in the death of someone whose only crime was to incur the disfavor of Sirius Black.
Sirius Black was charismatic. He schmoozed and sauntered his way through his lines, and oozed confidence. Superficially, it's easy to see why girls love him, and why men want to be him. But damn it, I'm so very sick of seeing the inane, fangirlish squeeing over him. Over what a "hot, sexy bad boy" he was. Regardless of whatever sex appeal he might have had, Sirius Black wasn't a good person. He was a fuckbag, and I for one applauded when he went through that bloody curtain.
So, I bring you: Why I absolutely, positively LOATHE Sirius Black.
It's quite simple really. He's a selfish, conceited little prick who never matured past the age of fourteen. I have to break down my reasons for hating him into smaller pieces of the whole, otherwise this will turn into an ugly, block paragraph of doom real quick.
The thing is, I wasn't surprised at all. A few of Snape's comments lead us to believe that James and Sirius were vain in their youth, and something about Sirius rubbed me the wrong way from the start. I just knew he was one of the nasty, popular boys in school before we even saw the memory in the Pensieve.
The flashbacks themselves revealed a lot about his character. He and James saw Snape walking past and deliberately sought to antagonize him. James disarmed him, but it was Sirius who dangled him in the air, humiliating him. Gee, golly... when was the last time we saw a group of people dangling others upside down in the air? Oh, right.
This may seem small, but I think it's an important point. Sirius never matured past his school days. Even with all he's been through, he can't overcome a simple, schoolboy grudge. It's pathetic, really.
He said this to a fifteen year old boy. I just... That floored me when I first read it. That a grown man would goad a teenage boy into risking his life by using the painful memory of his dead father. What. An. Ass.
However, this last point is the main drive behind the Sirius Hate Express that goes choo-choo'ing through my brain every time I see his name. The events that unfolded at the Whomping Willow prove that Sirius was a selfish, callous asshole who JKR, despite her best efforts, cannot pass off as a good person to anyone with a shred of common sense.
Sirius Black planned and executed what would have led to the murder of a fellow student, had James not intervened. He did this for no other reason than that the other boy annoyed him. His weapon of choice in this matter was his best friend. He would have used Lupin to kill Snape, regardless of how it would have devastated Lupin after he regained human form. He did not consider the feelings of a person he professed to consider a friend when using him as a means to an end. An end that would have resulted in the death of someone whose only crime was to incur the disfavor of Sirius Black.
Sirius Black was charismatic. He schmoozed and sauntered his way through his lines, and oozed confidence. Superficially, it's easy to see why girls love him, and why men want to be him. But damn it, I'm so very sick of seeing the inane, fangirlish squeeing over him. Over what a "hot, sexy bad boy" he was. Regardless of whatever sex appeal he might have had, Sirius Black wasn't a good person. He was a fuckbag, and I for one applauded when he went through that bloody curtain.