30 Days of Harry Potter Meme -- Day 7

[kelly_chambliss]

Day 1. Discuss how you got into Harry Potter.

Day 2. Your favorite book

Day 3. Least favorite book.

Day 4. Favorite female character.

Day 5 Favorite male character.

Day 6 Least favorite female character.

Day 7 Least favorite male Character.

For a variety of personal and literary reasons, it's James Potter:

Literary

• He's the least interesting of the Marauders. Obviously, this has something to do with the fact that he never appears as a full character in canon. Not only is he dead, but JKR also has to make sure that he remains a suitably-admirable father for Harry. I liked the way she complicated his character in OoP, but still, he remains underdeveloped.
  
• As readers, we seem to be expected to like and/or admire James on some level (perhaps only because Harry does, and we see things through his eyes), yet the text never gives us any narrative reason to find James appealing. To the best of my memory, the only time we really see James (as opposed to being told about him) is in the "Snape's Worst Memory" scene, and he's pretty unpleasant. (There's the Resurrection Stone walk, too, but that scene is serving so many symbolic and structural functions that it's not really concerned with offering nuanced characterization.)

Personal

• I dislike this sort of arrogant, entitled, swaggering bully

I've read some excellent fanfic that offers a fuller, more fleshed-out and interesting picture of James, but in canon, I just can't find him at all charming.

Many of you on the flist have answered this question with "Dumbledore," and I do understand that; you've given thoughtful, persuasive rationales. But Dumbledore is saved for me because of his fascinating layers, his moral complexity, and the many shades of gray he develops over the course of the books. That doesn't mean I don't find him infuriating and sexist and Machiavellian, of course /g/. But that's why he's so interesting.

Day 8 Thoughts on fanfic.
Day 9 Favorite Hogwarts Professor.
Day 10 Dead character you want to bring back most.
Day 11 House you would be in.
Day 12 Hogwarts subject you would most like to take.
Day 13 Spell you wish you could work without a wand.
Day 14 Thoughts on fanart (+ A favorite fanart).
Day 15 Favorite movie.
Day 16 Least favorite movie.
Day 17 Books vs. films.
Day 18 A part of the books/movies that makes you cry.
Day 19 Favorite 'ship(s).
Day 20 Your favorite villain.
Day 21 Favorite location.
Day 22 Thoughts on wizard rock.
Day 23 Character you think you are most like.
Day 24 Horcruxes vs. Hallows?
Day 25 Something you wish JKR had written about more.
Day 26 Marauders vs. Snape.
Day 27 The Invisibility Cloak, The Resurrection Stone or The Elder Wand.
Day 28 The Next Generation.
Day 29 How have you participated in the fandom over the years?
Day 30 In general, the effects of Harry Potter on your life..

(NB -- I recently saw a Shakespeare version of this "30 Days" meme. I'm really tempted. . .And maybe I can make up a Jane Austen one.)