Harry's revenge on Snape?

[clio44a]

No: HPFGUIDX 90566

Carol wrote:

>First, I'm not sure that Harry's hatred for Snape is as deep as it
>appears. Much of it is a child's or teenager's resentment of an 
>overly
>strict authority figure. Snape is a convenient scapegoat, a target 
>for all the anger bottled up in Harry which can't be directed at the 
>real enemy, Voldemort. 
[snip]

>I don't think that Harry, now that he's come
>to terms with Dumbledore after resenting him through a whole 700-page
>book, will continue to blame a man he knows to be Dumbledore's ally
>and agent for killing Sirius.
[snip]

>If so, though he
>probably won't admit to himself that he's blamed Snape unfairly, 
>he'll probably arrive at a more realistic perspective of the events 
>leading to Sirius's death. Even if he won't admit that he owes his 
>life to Snape, he should surely acknowledge that it was Snape who 
>sent the Order to rescue him and that Snape tried to prevent Sirius 
>from going to the MoM. 


Excellent analysis! Yet I doubt that Harry will have the same trust 
in Dumbledore as he has had before the events in OotP. Ddore has not 
outright lied to him, but held a few things back. And Ddore has 
proven himself to be fallible. Consequently Harry will not follow 
Ddore's lead anymore as easily as before. True, Dumbledore trusts 
Snape. But is he right? Others have (or had) their doubts in Snape 
being on the right side, namely Moody, Sirius and Ron (who probably 
echos an opinion he has heard at home). I somehow can't imagine Harry 
believing Ddore about Snape's loyalty. Note that the quote about 
Harry never forgiving Snape is from AFTER Harry's little chat with 
Ddore.  


Eventually Harry will of course come to the insight that Snape tried 
to save the day after he had rushed off to the MoM. I just can't see 
Harry realizing that overnight at Privet Drive, when he is alone with 
his anger. Some person (not Dumbledore!) or some event in book 6 must 
lead him to this insight, IMHO.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Alla wrote:

>--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "clio44a" <clio44a at y...> wrote:
>> Clio, 
>> who thinks Harry is too young to be a second Ghandi yet.

>Can I steal this phrase from you, please, pretty please? Yes, Harry 
>is entirely too young to be thinking about peaceful solutions only.

Well, feel free to do so.


>Yep, I think that Harry and Snape are bound to clash very seriously. 
>I think you convinced me that it could be physical violence, which 
>will end up with Harry being disgusted with himself. Again ;o)

Nice to hear that my points seem to be convincing. : ) What I think 
would be interesting to hear from your perspective as a prime Harry 
apologist (which is not something bad in itself) is: would you say it 
would both Harry and Snape do good if something like this happened? 
Harry taking advantage of a position of power over Snape, I mean. 
And where do you think Harry was disgusted with himself so far?  


Alla wrote in another post: (in her little skirmish with Anne)
>He [Snape] chose from the victim to become a bully. I want him to 
>stop the 
>cycle of hate first, not Harry.

I don't want to reiterate your lively and interesting discussion 
about morals and who has to back down first. Let me just point out 
this - Snape has already stopped the 'cycle of hate' and has risen 
above his own revenge. After all we know after these 5 books he has 
stopped being a supporter of Voldemort and now works for the good 
guys. Even more: if he truely was the spy who warned the Order about 
the attack on the Potters, he, for whatever debatable reason, did not 
wish the death of his childhood enemy anymore. 

That means Snape has already proven that he has a conscience and is 
able to see the error of his ways. He learned from his mistakes. Did 
Harry make mistakes and learn from them? We are yet to see.  




Clio,
who is very happy that Harry has developed in such a complex 
character that we can discuss his current state of mind and his moral 
standards.