Snape as having been loved.

[nrenka]

No: HPFGUIDX 136454

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "lealess" <lealess at y...> wrote:

<snip>

> Honestly, what does love have to do with it?  People make mistakes, 
> whether or not they are loved, for complex reasons, or just by 
> accident.  It is teaching morality, backed by love, that (hopefully) 
> prevents these kinds of mistakes, not love on its own.

I think it has to do with the nature of what the DEs do.  In the 
passage about Draco and Occlumency, Rowling describes Draco as someone 
who has been able to cut off his pity and his compassion--and this is 
what enables someone to become a Death Eater.

Pity and compassion, both interpersonal qualities: something that one 
has for another, in other words.  In Rowling's world, they seem to be 
essential components of love, that mysterious thing that forms the 
bonds between people and creates connections.

Voldemort is the ultimate isolate--no lovers, no friends, no equals.  
He's even gone the further step and fragmented himself.  In contrast, 
anyone who has been loved by someone has had a bond formed between 
them, and the foundations laid for understanding and treating another 
person with respect.

To be capable of joining the DEs and carrying out what they do is to 
be capable of repudiating the humanity of others, and thus offending 
against someone who once recognized you as human, yourself.

Perhaps, then, to focus as Draco has upon his own situation is to 
engage in love, but a very narrow one--for it's predicated upon a 
particular restriction of feelings.  After all, Draco has two 
attempted murders upon his conscience, even if he cannot do the grand 
deed at the end.  His motives throughout are self-preservation and 
saving his family, but he does not rate highly what damage he must do 
to others to accomplish this.

Is Rowling saying that Snape should have known better?  In a sense--
yes, yes she is.  I think she's framing it as a conscious decision on 
his part to have gone against a fundamental human principle.

-Nora notes that this one will be interesting to see play out