Snape's liability

[A Featheringstonehaugh]

No: HPFGUIDX 100716

Mel wrote:
 
<"Personally, I think if you can't see Snape's discontinuation of 
<lessons as responsible for Sirius' death, than you can't really see 
<Harry's inability to master it (for whatever reason) as responsible 
<either".
 
That's right. I don't think Harry's responsible either.  In fact, I don't find the Occlumency issue as a determining factor at all. To me, the lessons are nothing more than background; supplying a big "if only" but nothing more. As you said, Mel, it was war and people die in war. 
 
People have a way of twisting facts and glossing over reality in the face of grief, regret or nostalgia . (Notice how the "Reagan Legacy" is being re-written.)  Poor Harry has lost not only his godfather, but also - and more importantly -  the father figure hand-chosen for him by his own parents; he's lost the image he'd come to idolize. He's so sad he translates his grief into guilt and blame and then goes on to do what what many humans do when thoughts become too painful -project that blame onto someone else.
 
I suspect some of that grief is shared by readers who get caught up in the characters' lives.  We identify so strongly we begin to act as would Harry and project blame where none really exists.
 
Not that I would ever do anything like that. I'm not too deeply involved with these books. Of course not. No.  Besides, I KNOW Snape had nothing to do with the death...........no, no...please, don't even think it about poor Severus!
 
AF

		
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