Snapedom

Hi. Well, I have to say that I have to agree with some of this assessment, but not all of it. Clearly JK Rowling simply regards James Potter as a hero and a good guy who had a few faults when he younger. As a feeling and somewhat intelligent reader, I don't quite buy that. There's just too much that doesn't sit well with me when it's looked at closely. I think James certainly did have a nasty streak and he comes off as nothing more than an spoiled, arrogant BMOC with a gang of enabler friends from what we see of him while he was at Hogwarts. We as readers are supposed to take JK's word for it that he matured and became the kind of man that was a good husband and father; she doesn't show us that to any great degree. Potential abuser is probably an accurate view of James, however, I have a hard time believing he was actually abusive with Lily or his friends even if I don't particularly care for him.

I think you're absolutely spot on about the relationship with Remus Lupin and the animagi transformations, though. I don't think James truly cared for him very much, and that the other marauders liked the forbidden/dangerous/thrill -seeking aspects of becoming animagi as much as the ability to keep Remus company and in control during the full moon.