Did Snape work for Dumbledore from Day One?

[nrenka]

No: HPFGUIDX 118937


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Sharon" <azriona at j...> wrote:
> 
> In post 118796, Kneasy asked me to give my reasons for why Snape 
> could have been a spy for Dumbledore from Day One.  Let me first 
> say that it wasn't originally my idea - my friend Noel came up with 
> it one day while we were throwing obnoxious ideas back and forth to 
> each other in a futile attempt to avoid work.  It's just this 
> particular idea had enough merit to stick.  

<snip in toto>

This is very well argued, if rather speculative--necessarily, 
though.  So I'll make my objection (because I like playing devil's 
advocate) on thematic grounds.

Make Snape have been on the side of the angels all along, having gone 
to spy at Dumbledore's behest, and you take all genuinely messy 
thematic meaningful potential BANG out of his story--not to mention 
putting George and Diana out of a job.

It's too clean, too neat.  It means that Snape doesn't have any truly 
deep guilt or responsibility, or really anything to be too sorry for--
he was always working for the good guys.  It really destroys the crux 
of the character (for me, at least), that he is something of a 
penitent, having gone over to the Dark Side, and having returned, at 
great risk to himself (as he switched sides when it looked like the 
Dark Hats were winning).

Severus Snape is compelling, such as he is, because he has genuinely 
done Bad Things, and is likely genuinely converted away from at least 
some of the Bad Things--although you'll note per interview that there 
are things Dumbledore won't let him do.  Compelling!Snape needs to 
have struggled with himself and his own worst inclinations, as (I 
think) he is still doing at the present in many regards.

I suppose that this could be pulled off, textually.  It'd really be 
something of a let down, I think.  Doesn't seem to mesh terribly well 
with the general strain of JKR's commentary on the character.  Some 
people may not take such commentary seriously, but I tend to.  Unless 
someone can point out to me where she's lied to us so far. :)

-Nora crashes into her nice, cozy, goose-down comforter-ed bed