Two Questions and a Request

[dorapye]

No: HPFGUIDX 87852

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, SnapesSlytherin at a... wrote:
> While re-reading OoP, I came up with two questions (only one of 
which involves Snape!) and one request.
> 
> 1. Why are the memories of Snape's that Harry sees set up the way 
they are?  To understand what I mean, we have to see the passage:
> OoP, page 591-591 American Hardback Edition (yea baby!)
> Snape staggered; his wand flew upward; away from Harry -- and 
suddenly Harry's mind was teeming with memories that were not his -- 
a hook-nosed man was shouting at a cowering woman, while a small 
dark-haired boy cried in a corner . . .. A greasy-haired teenager 
sat alone in a dark bedroom, pointing his wand at the ceiling, 
shooting down flies . . .. A girl was laughing as a scrawny boy 
tried to mount a bucking broomstick-
> <<END PASSAGE>>
> 
> My question is this: Why are Severus' memories shown from a third 
person POV?  Why didn't Harry see from inside Severus' head?  Why 
are his memories viewed as if he was outside his body watching 
himself?  Any ideas?



Now dorapye:
Please excuse me if this is not expressed particularly clearly,as I 
am remembering something I have heard and read about a long, long 
way back, but (?)neuropsychologists have it pretty much concrete 
that *all* our memories are stored not as if we were looking at them 
through our eyes, but rather as if we were watching a film with  
ourselves as the central star.  

It is all wrapped up in our own view of *self*, so this may not be 
true for very young children, before they develop a sense of 
themselves in the world around them (probably very difficult for 
psychologists to find out one way or the other!), but any further 
detailed explanation than this I will need to leave to a genuine 
psychologist, as I don't want to reveal huge chasms of ignorance!(or 
confuse anyone, either...)

Pychologists have used this to explain "out of body experiences" 
when unconcious patients have apparently "floated out of their body 
and looked down at themselves from the ceiling" during lifesaving 
operations.  Because the patient was properly anaesthetised during 
the operation, and likely close to death, not registering any level 
of consciousness that could be detected, people have claimed 
these 'memories' show that the person's spirit must have left the 
body in order for the person to 'remember' the scene from a ceiling 
point of view. However, if all memories are etched onto our minds as 
if we are spectators to the events involving ourselves, then it can 
be deduced that the OBE is not evidence of a spirit leaving the 
body, but that the patient's mind must have been conscious on some, 
as yet not understood, level and that the patient is recalling a 
deep, deep, memory of the operation, but, because it is a memory, 
they appear to be watching from outside their body. 


Okay, not convinced?  Well, then, I challenge you to think about a 
memorable event in your life (one for which there are no photographs 
and therefore no memory contamination) and replay the action before 
your eyes - do you see it as if you are looking through the eyes of 
your past self, or are you watching like a bystander as your past 
self plays its part in the memory? 

It is knowing this that has meant that I have never had any problems 
with the pensieve scenes, though I believe they are an objective 
recollection of the events, as played out - rather perhaps as an OBE!

Does this make any useful sense to anyone?
dorapye