Harry's Choices- Snape DE and Spy

Tue Jan 22 16:23:41 UTC 2002

No: HPFGUIDX 33901

Alexander (who seems to become kind of a sparring partner for me) wrote:

<<Does it matter what he heard?
  Harry's "choices" are (in no particular order):
1) Despite bad treatment by Dursleys he has managed not to
turn into an everyone-hating brat. It looks he had to make a
lot of choices along the way...
2) Madam Malkin's shop - 1st meeting with Draco Malfoy.
Harry instinctively rejects the prejudicious approach DM
advocates.
3) Hogwarts Express - Ron&Harry vs Draco&C&G scene. Without
even thinking Harry stands up to fight for his friend, even
though chances are not in their favour.
  And mind it, these are only the choices that we see. How
many other similar ones he made that we are unaware of?

Harry's "Not Slytherin" is a choice as well. He is
refusing help to satisfy his own ambitions, which are very
strong (as we happen to know from later books).>>

Ok, let’s have a closer look at what you called Harry’s choices, for I think that right here we’re in a bit of confusion: When it comes to explaining how exactly Harry has grown to be a fairly normal boy and not an antisocial brat, I must admit that I’m a bit at a loss. The only guess I can hazard is that it has to do with the special protection Dumbledore provided him with and with Lily’s sacrifice. 

Psychologists on this list please correct me if I’m wrong, but AFAIK, if a child is mistreated and abused during the earliest years of childhood ( 0-4 years) and does NOT become disturbed, we can hardly claim that this is due to this child’s conscious choices. OTOH, the most profound damage IS done during those years, so, given that Harry is as he is, I take the liberty of disagreeing on 1).

Next: The meeting at Mme. Malkins. As I said before, Draco’s arrogant behaviour most certainly WAS one of the main reasons for Harry to decide against Slytherin. But I would refrain from taking this as a point in case for Harry CONSCIOUSLY choosing any house but Slytherin. I suppose that, had he met Colin Creevey instead of Malfoy, he would have been a little reluctant about Gryffindor. Anyway, we can give him the benefit of doubt, for he might have thought along the line “Maybe all Slytherins are like this Malfoy, so it better be not Slytherin”. Hardly a choice, but at least what I’d call consistent logic in an 11 YO.

Last: The greatness issue. I’ll certainly re-read the Sorting Ceremony in PS/SS, anyway I’m sure I never interpreted it as Harry seeing his ambition and wish for greatness as a potential danger for himself. If anybody, it’s the hat to see it.

Elkins wrote(about Snape):

<<But he can't have been all *that* much of a loner.  Sirius 
says that Snape "was part of a gang of Slytherins who nearly
all turned out to be Death Eaters."  You don't get identified 
as "part of a gang" unless you hang out with the gang's other 
members on a fairly regular basis.  

(BTW, that "nearly all" is interesting, isn't it?  Not all of 
them, but "nearly" all of them.  Who, one wonders, were the
abstainers?  And how do *they* feel about all of this?)>>

Snape might just have been what Pettigrew was to the Marauders- a tagalong. Though I strongly doubt that, considering his above-average qualities which might not have assured him the affection, but certainly the esteem of his fellow Slytherins. If I had to characterize the nature of Slytherin relationships, I’d say that they are born out of necessity and convenience. Which OTOH, doesn’t mean that strong bonds cannot exist between them- dependence is as strong a bond as love.

Still Elkins:

<<But you know, in the real world, people who kill and torture
others *do* generally have friends, and loved ones, and people 
they care very deeply about.  Life is complicated that way.>>

Very wise. There is a German saying “In meinem Vaterland spielen viele Mörder  Bach“ (In my country, a lot of murderers play Bach) which- at least I think so- clearly refers to the Nazi regime. I don’t doubt that some of the DEs had wives and children whom they dearly loved. Which doesn’t make their evil deeds less evil, but to try and see all of it together in one single person is what makes your brain seize up.  

Eloise wrote:

<<I have long speculated on the nature of Snape's great personal sacrifice. It 
couldn't have been anything that Voldy deprived him of directly,or the spying 
game would have been up. It makes much more sense if it is this, the 
necessary betrayal of an individual or individuals for whom he still feels... 
I don't know...?a sense of allegience ...perhaps something more? It is quite 
possible that someone (family even) was in a position to doubt his loyalty 
and had to be eliminated. I don't wish to speculate too much further, for 
fear of becoming melodramatic! (Although,could we have the patricide theme 
appearing again?)>>

Er
 sorry to rain on your parade, Dumbledore’s words are “at great personal risk”, not “sacrifice”. Which somehow changes the perspective. Had others (friends, family) been involved, it would have been a “personal” risk, would it?

<<Eloise,  who is trying to stop talking about Snape, but finding it very 
difficult.>>

Now that’s my girl!! But it’s strange all the same, isn’t it??? ;)

Susanna/pigwidgeon37

"And how come those portraits seem to be alive?"

"What'ya mean? All paintings move."

"No, they don't. We have lots of paintings in our villa, among them a real Chagall, and none of them..."

"And d'ya expect that something painted by a jackal will move? Now really..."

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