So, yes, Remus can be careless in extreme situations. But what's the real gist of the character? What does he represent to Harry, and what does he appear to represent for Rowling?
Yes, I understand where you're coming from in this whole comment. Rowling has these very clear ways you're meant to respond to the characters, even if(perhaps because?) they are so skewed through Harry's POV. Sometimes it works really well (Umbridge!). And sometimes it doesn't work, like I'm finding increasingly with Dumbledore - he's supposed to be this nice mentor figure, but he does so many irrational things for the greater cause of plot that I'm just frustrated with his incompetence. But then again, that's a different school of analysis - the external one, the what-did-Rowling-intend for this character. If we treat the characters as actual people, then all their little flaws and conflicts are brought into the light. And both ways of analyzing are fun, the first because you get to puzzle out what Rowling means, and try to replicate the 'canon' feel of her characters. The second because if we take the facts that she gave us and but her intent to the back of our minds we can go crazy with different interpretations. What I find fascinating about that is that the interpretations change with the person reading, because they aren't seeing the facts through Harry's eyes or even Rowlings - like in this discussion! Some people read Remus as useless and dangerous, and others as a good guy who just had a lapse. (Personally, I'm with you on that. I think in the excitement he just forgot, and it shouldn't be held against him.) :D
Yah...I'm sure this is old blab to you...just an excuse for me to rant. ;)
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Yes, I understand where you're coming from in this whole comment. Rowling has these very clear ways you're meant to respond to the characters, even if(perhaps because?) they are so skewed through Harry's POV. Sometimes it works really well (Umbridge!). And sometimes it doesn't work, like I'm finding increasingly with Dumbledore - he's supposed to be this nice mentor figure, but he does so many irrational things for the greater cause of plot that I'm just frustrated with his incompetence. But then again, that's a different school of analysis - the external one, the what-did-Rowling-intend for this character. If we treat the characters as actual people, then all their little flaws and conflicts are brought into the light. And both ways of analyzing are fun, the first because you get to puzzle out what Rowling means, and try to replicate the 'canon' feel of her characters. The second because if we take the facts that she gave us and but her intent to the back of our minds we can go crazy with different interpretations. What I find fascinating about that is that the interpretations change with the person reading, because they aren't seeing the facts through Harry's eyes or even Rowlings - like in this discussion! Some people read Remus as useless and dangerous, and others as a good guy who just had a lapse. (Personally, I'm with you on that. I think in the excitement he just forgot, and it shouldn't be held against him.) :D
Yah...I'm sure this is old blab to you...just an excuse for me to rant. ;)