[HPforGrownups] Plot holes (Was: It's over, Snape is evil)

[Kathryn Jones]

No: HPFGUIDX 137618

nrenka wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Kathryn Jones <kjones at t...> wrote:
> <snip>
> 
>  > Kathy writes:
>  >    I'm sure that JKR will find a way for Snape to contact someone a
>  > little more receptive than you. If not, I can see some serious plot
>  > holes looming in book 7.
> 
> Do tell what plot holes would ensure from this: I'm interested, as I'm
> thinking of ways for Snape to make contact:
   nrenka

Kathy writes:
  Please have patience because this is difficult to work backwards on 
pure plot points as opposed to a character or personality basis. These 
ponts are just how it seems to me.


1.  The books seem to be about good versus evil and definitive choices 
as opposed to forced choices or unknowing choices. We have seen 
documentation of both. We see Draco unable to make a definitive choice 
because of circumstance. We see Lily making a definitive choice to give 
her life for Harry. We see Voldemort making a definitive choice to 
murder to make himself immortal. We have not seen Harry in the position 
of having to make a definitive choice, knowing all of the circumstances 
and repercussions. That is still coming. Snape may have made a 
definitive choice for good or evil but we have not been allowed to see 
for certain which way he chose. That is still coming. If Snape has 
chosen evil, it adds nothing to the plot, other than Harry will have to 
go through Snape to get to Voldemort. I don't feel as though this is 
what JKR is aming for. If Snape has definitively chosen good, or 
redemption, then he can be used to further the plot in many ways, 
poisoning Nagini, weakening Voldemort, passing information, setting up 
circumstances for the Death Eaters to fail in whatever Voldemort has set 
them to do, backing up Harry in the final confrontation, etc.

2.  The difficulty in trying to determine what people are really like 
seems to be central to the books as well. We all liked Moody but the 
Moody we really liked was Crouch. The real Moody is a bit mental. We all 
love Dumbledore, but he has changed from the sweet old Headmaster to a 
true player. He has his own agenda, keeping in mind that he told Harry 
that he had plans made but that he had made the foolish mistake of 
caring about Harry too much. Lupin is a favourite character, but he is 
weak. He does no harm, but probably can not be counted on to truly take 
a stand. Snape is mean, miserable, unattractive, and nobody likes him, 
but he has directly saved Harry's life, and Dumbledore's life. This 
would seem to fit with JKR's message. To simply turn him evil at this 
point might validate Harry's feelings, but just validating Harry's 
feelings adds nothing to the plot or the message.

3.   Personal sacrifice is another issue central to the books. Lily 
sacrificed her life for Harry. Dumbledore sacrificed his life by 
drinking a potion that he believed would kill him to destroy another 
horcrux. I believe that he demanded that Harry get Snape in order to 
have, what he believed was a horcrux, destroyed. He knew he was dying 
and he needed the horcrux dealt with because he knew he would not be 
able to do it himself. Ron willingly sacrificed himself in the chess 
game to enable Harry to protect the stone. Snape has apparently given up 
fifteen years of his life to Dumbledore so far. At the end of HBP he has 
given up any hope of a future, any possible respect, even if vindicated 
by Dumbledore somehow, and I expect his life in the satisfaction of the 
life debt that he owed James. His death in the service of Voldemort 
would not fit in with the theme of sacrifice that JKR has presented.

4.   Redemption is another interesting issue. Will Pettigrew be redeemed 
in the end? Where is that redemption owed? Can he pay Harry back for 
being directly responsible for the murder of James and Lily? Will 
anything he does in book 7 redeem him in the eyes of the WW for 
returning Voldemort to a body? Will Draco, at some point in time, earn 
redemption for his part in Dumbledore's death, or will he ever 
understand that repayment is called for? We understand that redemption 
is not an option for Voldemort. Complete eradication from the WW is the 
only option presented for him. Snape is the only character specifically 
mentioned in the books who feels genuine remorse for an action. 
Dumbledore is convinced of this.  There has to be some plot line in the 
next book that allows this redemption and Harry's understanding of it.

For what it's worth.
KJ