Can Occlumency be taught ? Yes ........ and No.

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 120574


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "dumbledore11214"
<dumbledore11214 at y...> wrote:
> 
> Del replies :
> 
> 
> > Could it be simply because Occlumency cannot be taught?
> Snape describes it as "an obscure branch of magic, but a highly 
> useful one".  ...
> 
> 
> Alla:
> 
> 
> Well, sure our lack of knowledge is one of the main problems in 
> evaluating whether Snape taught Occlumency correctly OR as you put 
> the question "Whether it could be taught at all"
> 
> I tend to think  that it could be taught, because Dumbledore 
> insisted that Snape TAUGHT Harry occlumency, but of course we don't 
> know what conversation Dumbledore had with Snape prior to starting 
> lessons.
> 
> ...edited..
> 
> What am I getting at? Oh, yes. This way of teaching smells TO ME of 
> Voldemort's way of teaching and I hope that occlumency can be taught.

bboyminn:

Just call me Shades O'Gray.

I think too often our arguements/discussions get trapped in black and
white, and we fail to see that life is really all about shades of gray.

On the subject of Snape; Evil/Not, Good/Bad, etc..., we forget that
it's possible for both sides to be right. Snape appears to be good,
although he is not nice. Snape has been seriously bad, and still, in
his own less than evil way, he can still be bad. We all have this
duality about us; we've all been bad and good, nasty and nice, rude
and polite, and will likely do so again. Snape is just a far more
interesting and not quite resolved duality. That's what makes him such
a facinating character; he is everything and he is nothing. To view
and understand the full character, we need to blend the ups and downs,
and smooth the blacks and whites into shades of gray, and thereby
determine whether the character's gray leans more toward the lighter
side or the darker side.

I'm reminded of the old parable of several Blind wisemen trying to
describe an elephant; one says the elephant is like a snake, the
other--like a rope, another-- like a wall, and the last--like a tree.
It all depends on whether you are examining the trunk, tail, body, or
leg. How you define Snape depends on what aspect of him you are
looking at.

Now the shades of gray for Occlumency. Like nearly everything in life,
Occlumency is a blend of skill and talent. Anyone can be taught the
skills necessary to be a passible artist or musician, but only a rare
few have the talent to really excel at it; to be true artists or true
musicians.

Students are, or maybe, taught the rudimentary skills of Occlumency
and resistance to the Imperius Curse, or at least, be made aware of
the possibility. Some may even be able to demonstate these skill in
the classrrom, but would be unable, or of limited ability, to resist
under stressful circumstance. 

Harry on the other hand has demonstrated, both in the classroom and
out, the ability to throw off the Imperius curse. Logically, he has,
and has demonstrated, similar skills with Occlumency. Others may be
taught within limits, but Harry has a true talent.

As far as Snape and Occlumency, I suspect Snape became aware that he
had a natural talent for this as he grew. Snape seems like an
emotionally guarded person. I can picture him closing himself off when
he sensed someone was trying to get a 'read' of him, and I mean this
in the more general sense. This tendency to guard his emotions may
have been what lead him to become aware the he had a far more than
average ability to do this. Keep in mind that 'guarding your emotions'
has more to do with hiding a sense of vulnerability than with keeping
your anger in check.

Later, one could assume that he formally became aware of Occlumency
either through conversation or research. Once he was aware that it was
a honeable skill, he may have worked at it. Indeed, at some point, he
may have even had someone assist him in refining his skills. Or that
someone may have recognised his skill, and helped him develope it for
a specific purpose, like spying.

To the question, why would Voldemort teach Occlumency to Snape. This
has already been answered; so Snape could join the good side and spy
on Dumbledore for Voldemort.

I have concluded that the only way Snape could successfully rejoin
Voldemort, is if Voldemort sent Snape to Dumbledore as a spy. That
allows Snape to now stay close to Dumbledore wtih Voldemort's
knowledge, and yet return to Voldemort pretending to still be spying
for him, and to do so with Dumbledore's knowledge. That makes Snape a
double agent, he is working both sides against the other. At this
point, he appears to us to be truly aligned with Dumbledore, but only
time will tell for sure. I have yet to hear any other explanation that
allows Snape, at this point in time, to effectively have access to
both sides.

So can Occlumency be taught? Yes, but only to a limited degree. 

Once again, through the duality of life, everyone is right; just not
absolutely right.

Just a few thoughts.

Steve/bboyminn (was bboy_mn)