How much does Snape know? was Wormtail's Name In the Confession (WAS: Spying Game...)

[marinafrants]

No: HPFGUIDX 40478

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "darrin_burnett" <bard7696 at a...> wrote:
> Marina wrote:

> > The narration is telling us what Harry saw, filtered through the 
> lens
> > of Harry's point of view.  Harry looked at Snape's expression
(which
> > is the only reason why the narration can tell us about it), and
saw 
> it
> > as "fury and horror".  The other characters present may have see
it 
> as
> > something entirely different; we just don't know.  
> > 
> 
> 
> I see your point and as I reflect, I have mislabeled it. But, in a 
> cursory re-read of the passages, I see differences in what is said.
> 
> Page 712: "the look on his face was one of mingled fury and horror."
> 
> later on the page: "Harry thought Dumbledore was asking for a near 
> miracle."
> 
> There is a clear distinction between what Harry thinks and what the 
> third-person thinks or sees. But, as I further reflect, your 
> characterization is much more accurate than mine, which was 
> inaccurate.

It's true that the language in the first example is the same as it
would've been for omniscient narration.  But it's often seen in
third-person limited too, because it would be cumbersome and
distracting to qualify every single piece of description with "Harry
thought" and "Harry believed" and "It looked to Harry as if."  That's
one of those things that makes POV such a drag for writers. :-)

> 
> Regardless, I do not think there is a twist lurking in this "fury
and 
> horror" thing, even if it is from Harry's point of view.

Oh, I don't expect a twist, either.  Harry may not be 100% perfect in
his observations, but he's not blind or stupid either.  If he reads
Snape's expression as "mingled fury and horror," I think it's safe to
say that Snape is looking thoroughly ticked. If he'd been grinning
from ear to ear with happiness, Harry would've picked up on that, and
if his expression had been too difficult to interpret, Harry would've
noted that too (as he did later in the book). But we're talking
nuances here. Naama was arguing, I believe, that "fury and horror"
must mean that Snape believed Sirius to be a traitor.  I was just
pointing out that even if you accept that argument (which I don't),
that doesn't mean Snape really believed this, it only means that Harry
interpreted Snape's anger that way.

Marina
rusalka at ix.netcom.com