Let's hear it for good old Snapey!

[doliesl]

No: HPFGUIDX 87868

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "vmonte" <vmonte at y...> wrote:
> vmonte wrote:
> If we, the readers are to take Snape's, Dumbledore's, 
> Lupin's, Sirius', warnings in mind--we too should not take what we 
> see at face value. Things may not be what they appear! 
> 
> 1. I wonder why Snape removed his thoughts in front of Harry? 

Lacking imagination and contradicting the spirit of this group, I 
believed in the most simple: the book is written from Harry's POV. If 
Harry don't see it, we readers wouldn't have seen it. To write Snape 
taken out the memories in front of Harry would be the most 
straightfoward way to inform readers of other characters' actions . 
If Snape have taken out his memories in private, locked it safely in 
the cupboard, thus Harry (and readers) wouldn't have known about 
Snape using the pensieve at all...now there will be NO story at all 
will it?  Some people suggest maybe it's Snape's scheme to trap a 
curious mind like Harry to see, I think some people feel this way 
because...it's actually more like JKR's designed scheme to give 
readers a live-action glimpse into Snape/MWPP's past -- JKR WANTS 
Harry/readers to see Snape's past. This past revelation is part of 
the MAJOR function of the whole Occlumency lesson is for. By now, do 
people honestly believe that Harry is MEANT to learn Occlumency in 
Book 5?  I believe that is not what all those lesson chapters are 
about, Harry mastering the skill of Occlumency is neither the purpose 
nor the goal for this story. The REAL purpose of that whole plot, as 
it seems to me, is really about the interactions and revelation 
between Harry and Snape. The memories sharing aspect is a great 
unspoken way to let readers know more about Snape's past. Harry WILL 
look at pensieve so that we readers can get a glimpse of Snape's past 
and James's ugly truth. JKR set it up for failure and revelation. 

It seems that I'm saying JKR used a lousy plot device to deliever 
whatever purpose she wants to do. But she knows it is quite limiting 
(also convenient) since the book is written from Harry's POV. 
Sometimes something is not meant to taken at face value (as a lot of 
Hary's mistakes, especially concerning Snape, has shown), however 
sometimes it IS as straightfoward as it gets. 

> 2. If the pensieve belonged to Dumbledore where some of his
> memories also in the pensieve?

He could have emptied it out before lending it to Snape. Just like if 
you were lending a fresh iPod or Firewire drive to a friend.

> 4. How do we know that these memories are Snapes? Is it just 
> because Harry repeated several times that they were. (Remember 
> Harry always takes things at face value.)

Or is it merely JKR herself speaking through Harry directly this 
time, TELLING readers very clearly that that crying little boy, 
lonely teenager in dark room, boy on bucking broomsticks are young 
Snape? The least confusing and most effective, straightforward way to 
inform and clear up something for readers in one single line? Since 
such information did fit in with Snape's character, so I doubt it's 
meant to mean something completely different.,.for now (the story 
isn't about Snape you know...)

D.