Just yesterday we celebrated Gary Oldman's birthday, and not surprisingly this created a general buzz on the internet about the character he portrayed in the Harry Potter franchise - Sirius Black.

Sirius is one of the most beloved characters in the series. Of the Marauders he is possibly the quickest to the punch, he's smart, loyal, and will always stick up for his friends. In many ways, he is the quintessential Gryffindor.

When he died, that death was marked down for many as one of the most painful moments of the series.

And yet, while he was alive, was Sirius Black truly a good role model for Harry?


Of the Maurauders, Sirius is truly the most reckless. After he escapes from Azkaban, instead of going home Sirius casually travels the Wizarding World in his dog form although the Ministry of Magic is after him, endangering not only his life but the information he holds about the activities of the Order.

Sirius also identified and cultivated the recklessness he saw within Harry. In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix he gives Harry broad details about Lord Voldemort's plans though Molly Weasley insists it's inappropriate to do so:

“What’s he after apart from followers?” Harry asked swiftly.
He thought he saw Sirius and Lupin exchange the most fleeting of looks before Sirius said, “Stuff he can only get by stealth.”
When Harry continued to look puzzled, Sirius said, “Like a weapon. Something he didn’t have last time.”
“When he was powerful before?”
“Yes.”
“Like what kind of weapon?” said Harry.
“Something worse than the Avada Kedavra — ?”
“That’s enough.”
(US Edition; p. 96)

There is an argument to be made that had Sirius not prepared Harry continuously for what was coming, he would not have been prepared to fight. But is it possible that given the moment above and others like it Sirius nurtured Harry to be a bit more reckless than he might have otherwise been?

Let me be clear - in terms of values, there's no question that Sirius embodies some of the greatest aspects of the human race - he's courageous, loyal, and generally a good person. But is it possible his pride and sense of adventure make him a bad role model to Harry?

 
 

Next >>

 
Which MuggleNet specialty site is your favorite?

 

MNI
MNFF
CoS Forums
MuggleSpace

 

June 1, 2007 - It is revealed that the Potter theme park will cost upwards of $295 million to build.
 
 

Question : According to Order of the Phoenix, which fellow Gryffindor student almost didn't return to school because their mother didn't believe Harry and Dumbledore?
 
Dean Thomas
Neville Longbottom
Seamus Finnigan
 

Everybody finished the song at different times. At last, only the Weasley twins were left singing along to a very slow funeral march.

Sorcerer's Stone, Chapter 7, Page 128
Natalie McDonald, who appeared in Harry Potter and Goblet of Fire, was based on a real girl Rowling knew who was dying of leukemia. She wrote to JK Rowling asking what was going to happen in the next Harry Potter book as she would not live long enough to read it.
 
 
Int'l Harry Potter Day - 15th Anniversary of Battle of Hogwarts
May 2nd, 2013


Victoire Weasley B-day
May 2nd, 2013


MISTI-Con Convention
May 9-13, 2013


Pomona Sprout B-day
May 15th, 2013


Username :
Password :
 Sign Up
 Forgot Password ?
 
 
V-Day2013 Option II   VDay2013   holidays2012   MuggleNet OWL Exams  
April Fool's Day 2012   GilderoyVDay   Happy Holidays 2011   Pottermore: Slytherin  
Pottermore: Hufflepuff   Pottermore: Ravenclaw   Pottermore: Gryffindor   Quidditch World Cup  
Halloween 2011   DHnagini   DHelderwand   DH2cast  
DH1Trio   DH Voldemort   DH_Trio   Deathly Hallows - Hermione  
Burning Hogwarts   Wizarding World   Draco   Half-Blood Prince Trio  
Harry   Hermione   LEGO Harry Potter  
 
 
  Twitter   Facebook   RSS   Tumblr