Comments | idol_reflection: Sirius Black (Harry Potter)

gaeta in idol_reflection

Sirius Black (Harry Potter)

Nov 05, 2004 22:44

Title: "Have You Seen This Wizard?"
Author: gaeta
Spoilers: Through OotP (and beyond?)
Email: glowagle@yahoo.com

( Will the real Sirius Black please stand up? )

Comments 39

A Balanced View of Sirius Black jazzypom November 13 2004, 00:36:05 UTC

That few people give credence to. He was a bloody minded- bastard, no doubt about it, but he had redeeming qualities.

A fascinating character to come to grips with, and although that I'm sorry that he died, at least he went out defending his godson. I don't think he'd have wanted it any other way.

Thanks for the links. I shall save them in memories.

Re: A Balanced View of Sirius Black gaeta November 13 2004, 04:08:26 UTC

Thanks for reading and commenting. Yes, it seems that people either love or hate Sirius. In that way he's like a lot of other characters in the series.

I hope you enjoy some of the stories I've recced. I found it hard to limit myself once I started collecting them for this essay. I could easily have included twice as many as I did.

Re: A Balanced View of Sirius Black jazzypom November 13 2004, 09:17:50 UTC

Yeah, I enjoyed the recs, thank you, since there were quite a few that I hadn't read, especially the 'general fic' recs ( ... )

Just found this this morning... anonymous November 17 2004, 15:09:27 UTC

And I think you've done a really nice job with this essay. I happen to be someone who adores Sirius, for all of his faults and his strengths, both. I think he is much more complex than many people give him credit for, and seeing as the books are from Harry's perspective, I doubt we'll ever get a truly accurate and in depth portrayal, but you've certainly done his character justice ( ... )

Re: Just found this this morning... anonymous November 17 2004, 15:10:15 UTC

On another note, I wanted to include a few links for art. A young woman named Marte has done some truly fabulous sketches and watercolors from the books - quite a few from OoTP. Her website is located at artdungeon.net. The specific pics with Sirius are here:

Relaxing after the DADA OWL
The Department of Mysteries
Old Enemies
MWPP @ age 15
MWPP late teens
Animagus Study
Visiting Remus
Party in the Dorm"

Um, ok - I put quite a few, but I couldn't help myself - they're really good!!

~Lisa

Re: Just found this this morning... gaeta November 19 2004, 02:23:36 UTC

Thank you again for these. Yes, they're lovely. I very much like the DoM. I haven't seen that space rendered so fully before. And the MWPP ones are sweet -- I especially liked Animagus Study and Visiting Remus.

Re: Just found this this morning... gaeta November 19 2004, 02:19:30 UTC

Thank you for taking the time to read and respond ( ... )

fadagaski November 30 2004, 20:56:57 UTC

I don't read many fandom essays (particularly at 9PM on a schoolnight), but I'm glad I was directed to this one. You've managed to give a balanced view of the character - rare enough in itself - but also with quotes backing you up (heaven forbid!). And you've pointed out several facets of his construction and presentation that have never occurred to me before, though to be fair, that's probably because I don't think of any of the characters/books in such an intellectual way.

I think this has served two purposes for me. First, I now feel a little more confident in writing Sirius in fic, because he really is such a flexible character. Second, I will be able to (eventually) reread OotP (and any references to him in HBP) and not be completely galled by any 'discrepancies' I see.

Thanks for that!

gaeta December 6 2004, 17:18:52 UTC

You've managed to give a balanced view of the character - rare enough in itself - but also with quotes backing you up (heaven forbid!).

Hee. Thanks. I know what you mean about the quotes. I was an English major and am now an English teacher, so I'm big on text reference. I was afraid it might be too literary, so I'm glad you appreciated it.

Your comments were very kind. Thanks for taking the time to respond.

iamspecial December 3 2004, 05:51:43 UTC

I realize this is about a month after you posted your essay, but I just wanted to say that I think you did a brilliant and very balanced job defining Sirius. I agree with your characterization of him wholeheartedly. He's a man of contradictions: arrogant bastard, yet utterly loyal friend; rakish and sometimes cruel prankster, yet charming and highly intelligent ( ... )

gaeta December 6 2004, 17:33:50 UTC

Thank you so much for your comments. I don't mind at all that someone is still reading my essay a month later. In fact, it's quite nice to know that it hasn't just been swallowed entirely into the black hole of old LJ entries.

kleio_the_muse March 23 2005, 16:52:21 UTC

I know I'm late - aeons late, actually - but better late than never, eh?;)

Absolutely adored this. Of course, it came as no surprise that you'd have such insight into Sirius' character, but this summed it all up so nicely that it really leaves me nothing to add. I particularly enjoyed that you were able to make sense of the evident change in Sirius between GoF and OotP, that has puzzled so many of us. But seen like that, as sort of an antithesis to Harry's growing up, it certainly sounds like a plot tool rather than poor characterisation on JKR's part.

Anyway, please accept my belated applause:)

gaeta March 29 2005, 01:38:52 UTC

Oh, don't be sorry! It's a thrill to get a comment this long after posting. It makes LJ posts seem much less ephemeral.

I'm so glad you enjoyed it and even found my character-shift explanations plausible. Of course, whether it actually was deliberate on JKR's part one cannot really say. I actually think it doesn't matter though. If readers can work with what you give them, then you've done your job, even if you did it in part through luck.

So, thanks again.

Heading off to read your recent Snape/Black ... I was unfortunately not able to print it out in time to take it with me on my recent trip to Chicago. Instead I had to read some old stories I'd printed out long ago. But now that I'm back ....