Snape and Lupin's Character Arcs (was: Lupin's Char Arc)

[Smythe, Boyd T {FLNA}]

No: HPFGUIDX 119077

SSSusan wrote:
>>How 'bout the (I suppose boringly) simple possibility that Lupin will
serve in the capacity of Harry's mentor?  The only remaining member of his
parents' tightknit group, the one who no one seems to accuse of being rash
or reckless?  If Peter is truly the bad egg and Lupin is the good guy (as I
believe), then this would be a nice role for him to take on.  Goodness knows
Harry could use some support from an adult... and one who's been willing to
teach him things, answer *some* of his questions, and stand up to the
Dursleys.
>>There *is* some detachment there, Pippin, you're right, but I see it as
less extreme than you, and largely understandable given the nature of his
"curse" -- never wanting to get too close to people, never feeling fully a
part of anything, being shunned.  I could see him & Harry being good for one
another, actually.<<
<< 


Then Alla wrote:
>Yes, this would be ideal role for Remus to take, IMO. Ihave no doubt that
he genuinely loves Harry and maybe the realisation that Harry needs him and
that no one else now will stand up for Harry as Harry will help him to work
on his character flaws.
I don't know what Jo will do about Dumbledore/Harry relationship , but at
the very least their relationship needs serious reparation. And someone
needs to be there for Harry in the meanwhile.
>Maybe helping Harry to heal and to train will get rid of Remus' passivity
and self-doubt.
>Oh, and the other fond dream of mine - if Remus survives , maybe he will be
cured at the end. Maybe Snape will cure him, it will make him famous and he
will get off Harry's back? :o) <
<


now boyd:

Dammit, you've drawn me into a Snape post! I must be losing my mind! Nope,
found it right here next to my desk.

OK, I intentionally skipped Snape in my previous post on Character Arcs
simply because he is so loved and/or reviled, depending on who you ask.
Strong feelings, still no proof of what he is. Lots of folks think he's ESE
or at least a "bad guy."

But here's why I bring up Snape in response to the Lupin thread: I think
Snape makes a better mentor for Harry in books 6+7.

"That's #$%* ridiculous!" you say. "Harry hates him! He despises Harry! He
couldn't even teach him Occlumency, for heaven's sake!" All true. But look
at his character arc.

We are introduced to him in SS/PS as a scary looking and mean teacher. Harry
instantly thinks he's ESE and is sure he's the villain trying to steal the
Stone. But--and here I ask that for the next minute you take JKR's prose at
face value--we find out he has ben helping to hide it, and is DD's trusted
friend.

In the ensuing books, JKR has continued making it ever clearer that not only
does DD trust Snape, but that Harry should, as well. Witness his
counter-curses during Harry's quiddich match, or the secret orders from DD,
or the scene in Umbridge's office when Harry successfully (as we learn
later) warns Snape that Sirius is at the MoM. Yes, Snape is presented as
perhaps the most flawed of the good guys; he was even a DE. But he has
apparently worked tirelessly on behalf of DD& the Order, and while seemingly
despising Harry on some level, still manages to want to keep Harry safe. And
the main reason he is unsuccessful in teaching Harry Occlumency is: Harry.

So how has Snape changed? He has become (in Harry's eyes) more trustworthy.
Always nasty in temperament, but on the right side where it counts, and
Harry is beginning to notice this. So where does that lead Snape's character
in 6+7? To finally being fully trusted by Harry, probably after the death of
DD.

Yes, Harry will need a mentor, all right, and Snape's character awaits
Harry's final gift of full trust. A match made in heaven...or at least Jo's
notebook.

But Lupin? Why would that happen? Lupin was simply another example of not
trusting a book by its cover: looked shabby and a bit mysterious, but then
seemed good (and a friend of Harry's father!), then turned out to be flawed
by his Lycanthropy although it's not his fault. A sad figure, indeed.

It has been said that he is distant, passive. Yes and yes. But did he become
less so? No, in fact in his last scene he is still distant, accepting of his
fate as the sad castoff. Harry's feelings toward him did not change
significantly through the book, either--he always liked him. So as a
character, he's done. She has not foreshadowed anything else happening here,
nor does the plot or any theme require much more from poor Remus. [ed. note:
Unless in the endgame Harry destroys all magic, thereby curing Lupin!]

I liked Remus' character as much as the next reader, but I think Snape is
the one whose future requires more character development. Sorry! Cast my
vote for Snape as the next mentor to Harry (post-DD death, of course).

--boyd
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