The function of Chapter Two

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 138897

> >>Lupinlore:
> This is yet *another* look at Chapter Two, "Spinner's End."       
> Please bear with me.  Most of the discussions of this subject seem 
> to be concerned with what this reveals about Snape's character,   
> and then what it means for the plot.  However, HBP is a radically 
> plot-driven book, much more so than OOTP, at any rate.  Many of   
> the criticisms of it, in fact, seem to be that the plot determines 
> the character in HBP, rather than the other way around -- which   
> would be more believable and better writing.

Betsy Hp:
Ah, Lupinlore, how I love thee.  I know, I know, you've read cereal 
boxes better written than the drivel JKR churns out. <g>  However, I 
would suggest that there's a great deal of character development 
within HBP, not least of which involves Snape. (I, myself, saw no 
evidence of any of the players acting out of character.)

> >>Lupinlore: 
> So, what function does Chapter Two provide for the plot?  
> Particularly, what do we get out of Chapter Two we *only* get out 
> of Chapter Two and nowhere else?
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
The most readily apparent thing we get, IMO, is the Death Eaters' 
view of Snape.  This is something folks on the list (myself 
included) have been wondering about for some time.  (In many ways, I 
think, Bellatrix stood in for the average reader; she asked all the 
questions folks had been asking since the first book.) I recall huge 
discussions about whether or not Snape was a spy, and how he could 
possibly be taken seriously as a loyal Death Eater if he was.  This 
chapter answered those questions definitively, IMO.  Yes, Snape is a 
spy and yes, he's considered a loyal member of the Death Eaters by 
Voldemort.  Answering those questions was important both for the 
character development of Snape and for the plot.  The denouement on 
the Astronomy Tower would have been that much more confusing if we 
hadn't had the set-up of this chapter.

> >>Lupinlore:
> Well, we learn about the Unbreakable Vow, but that isn't anything 
> we don't hear about anywhere else.  Harry hears Snape talking     
> about it with Draco and Ron explains it, so the vow as such is    
> simply redundant info.  

Betsy Hp:
Not so.  We, the readers, know for certain that a Vow has been made. 
And we know exactly what the Vow asks of Snape.  Both Draco and Ron 
seem to think Snape might be lying.  We, the readers, know that he 
is not.

> >>Lupinlore; 
> We get the explanation from Snape's side of his return to 
> Dumbledore.  However, the basic facts of this are repeated at the 
> end of the book, and so that once again is redundant.

Betsy Hp:
We get the Death Eater version of Snape's tale in this chapter (and 
only this chapter).  Towards the end of HBP, Dumbledore shares a 
small (very, very, small, IMO) bit of the Order version of Snape's 
tale.  Especially considering the fact that Snape is indeed a double 
agent it's very important that we know both sides if we're to follow 
his part of the story, if we're to understand any of Snape's 
motivations, and if we're to understand any of the actions Snape 
takes.

> >>Lupinlore: 
> We get a few "backfills" that help explain plot holes and 
> contradictions (e.g. Quirrell), but those seem mainly to be just 
> housekeeping items.

Betsy Hp:
Well, yes.  Exactly.  JKR is tying up some loose ends.  It needs to 
be done and she uses Bellatrix's doubts to do it.  I'd also add that 
since there *were* explanations of the so-called plot holes, they're 
not really plot holes or contradictions in the end.

> >>Lupinlore:
> What we DO get here that we don't get anywhere else in the whole 
> book, or the whole series for that matter, is a look at Snape when 
> Harry isn't around.  We see the circumstances of his life          
>(evidently not too good)...

Betsy Hp:
And see, I thought Snape had a pretty sweet set-up going on.  All 
those lovely books...

> >>Lupinlore:
> ...and the way he interacts with some key characters 
> (Narcissa, Bellatrix, Wormtail).  I think THIS is the key to the 
> chapter -- particularly since JKR has hinted that Wormtail still   
> has a role to play, and that Harry sparing him will be very       
> important.  
> I'm not predicting, but I am guessing, that the purpose of this 
> chapter was to reveal the relationship between Wormtail and Snape, 
> and possibly to hint at something between Snape and Narcissa.

Betsy Hp:
I do agree that Snape's relationship with the various players will 
be of utmost importance.  I think his relationship with the Malfoy 
family (no ACID POPS sailor, me) will be important.  And yes, 
Wormtail's presence in this chapter will no doubt be of some 
importance in the final book.

> >>Lupinlore:
> <snip>
> However, IF Wormtail is to be important the fact that he has been 
> working for Snape hints at a Snape that is not completely on      
> Harry's side.

Betsy Hp:
Did you get the impression that Wormtail was working for Snape?  I 
got the feeling that Wormtail was working for Voldemort.  The whole 
lack of trust, one Death Eater spying on another, thing.  However, I 
do think the fact that Voldemort's compromised spy (Wormtail) is 
within easy reach of Voldemort's betrayer (Snape) is certainly worth 
noting.

> >>Lupinlore:
> Mostly I am influenced by my firm belief that bringing Snape down 
> clearly on either side would be a contrived and poorly written    
> ending, at this point.

Betsy Hp:
You'd want JKR to leave Snape's story hanging?  Wouldn't *not* 
finishing the story be bad writing?  Or are you saying you'd prefer 
Snape to be more like the Ministry, on neither side, more of a 
monkey wrench than anything else?

Personally (and I do realize this is personal preference we're 
talking about here, so I'm not trying to persuade you) I feel like 
JKR has done such a good job on building the mystery of Snape I 
really, really want a definitive answer at the end of the story.

> >>Lupinlore: 
> But anyway, to return to my main theme, I think what most of us    
> have been focusing on - the Unbreakable Vow and the circumstances 
> of Snape taking it - is only a blind. 
> <snip>
> I think the real information that will be important is how Snape  
> relates to Wormtail.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
I think it's highly important that we saw that Snape actually *has* 
a relationship with Wormtail.  But I also think his relationship 
with the Malfoy family (as revealed in this chapter) will play an 
important role in the next book as well.

So I think Spinner's End accomplishes a great deal.  It gives us 
some much needed insight into one of Potterverse's more ambiguous 
characters.  It answers some of our more basic questions regarding 
Snape's role.  It sets up Dumbledore's death.  And I'm willing to 
bet it sets up some stuff we'll see played out in book 7. (Well 
done, JKR! <eg>)

Betsy Hp