Why These Arguments Made Against James Potter Are Not Necessarily True

by Tasha9315

James Potter is probably the most harshly and unfairly judged character on the Harry Potter series. James Potter is not a fully fleshed out character and hence it's just so easy and convenient for people to make assumptions about him. Many fans make accusations against him that are not true or not necessarily true, but they insist they're definitely true.

13. Chapter 13

Rowling parallels James Potter with Dudley Dursley and Dumbledore compares James Potter to Draco Malfoy

First, let me start by saying NOT ALL BULLIES ARE THE SAME.

Yes, James, Dudley and Draco were all spoilt only sons and bullies. But that's as far as their similarities go.

Let me present you with "evidence" that Rowling parallels James with Dudley. I've even seen someone so determined that Rowling intends James and Dudley to be a set.

Evidence

James had a rat-like friend, Peter. Dudley had a rat-like friend, Piers in the Philosopher's Stone.

James had a best friend represented by a dog (Sirius) just like Harry also had a best friend represented by a dog (Ron). Ron's patronus is a dog just like Sirius' animagus/ patronus (albeit a different breed). James' friendship with his best friend Sirius more accurately parallels Harry's friendship with Ron. Furthermore, James and Harry are both represented by stags. So, by the logic of these select few people, James is also paralleled with Harry. After all, James is the only other character aside from Harry that was said to risk his life to save his arch-nemesis which is a fitting parallel considering James is Harry's father.

It's funny that some Snape fans who love pointing out this parallel between James and Dudley ignore the parallels between Snape and Voldemort. Voldemort and Snape both had muggle fathers, pureblood mothers, daddy issues, looked down on muggles due to their muggle fathers, had maternal families that were prejudiced, had bad childhoods, were Slytherins and craved power. Compared to Voldemort, Dudley looks like a saint. (But of course, Snape had parallels with other characters too).

Even if I accept this parallel, Rowling parallels many characters with many characters. When James has parallels with quite a few characters from Harry, Ron, the Weasley twins, Draco and even McGonagall, having a parallel with Dudley doesn't make him the Dudley of his generation.

Now to Draco. Yes, James has a few similarities with Draco, but he has quite a few stark contrasts with Draco as well (which I will cover next chapter). I've had a very select few people insist that Dumbledore compared James to Draco. Dumbledore did no such thing.

Here's what Dumbledore said: "Your father and Professor Snape were rivals in school not unlike Mr. Malfoy and yourself,"

This is a general statement. They derive this conclusion because James was a bully, but Dumbledore is not necessarily putting James and Snape in either of Harry and Draco's roles. Rowling's characters are supposed to be complex. Hence the comparison between Harry/ Draco and James/Snape is also supposed to be more complex than an outright parallel. Both James and Snape are complex combinations of Harry and Draco.

Another thing to remember is that James was close to Dumbledore, Dumbledore made him Headboy, and Dumbledore recruited him in the Order. Draco never had a good relationship with Dumbledore. Hence, it's unlikely Dumbledore would compare James to Draco. Plus, McGonagall compared James and Sirius to the Weasley twins. Harry compared him to Ron (when he saw Ron messing his hair when girls passed by at the end of OOTP). Sirius and Remus compared him to Harry (several times).

To me it seems like James and Snape are meant to be Harry and Draco with their backgrounds switched. James is Harry with Draco Malfoy's background. Snape is Draco with Harry's background. Just imagine Harry growing up as the rich, spoilt only son, and Draco growing up in a poor, abusive home. Wouldn't we get James and Snape? Or imagine James growing up as a poor kid in an abusive home and Snape growing up as the rich spoilt, only son. Wouldn't we get Harry and Draco?

Does James have parallels with Dudley and Draco? Perhaps, but he has parallels with quite a few other characters too. Hence, it's inaccurate for you to speak as if Draco and Dudley are the only character he's compared to just to bolster your narrative of what a horrible human being he is. If we really look at it, he's more like Harry and Ron with a different background or more like the Weasley twins compared to Dudley or Draco. The Weasley twins are kind of bullies in their own right too. Even Harry said that he sees the Weasley twins dangling someone like Draco Malfoy up in the air. Either way, Draco and Dudley grew up to be good people anyways.