Harry's story , NOT Snape's (was Re: "An old man's mistakes")

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 138949

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, <lady.indigo at g...> wrote:
<SNIP>
> 
> Which is why I do think Snape is innocent (along with the other
> reasons I listed), but even if he isn't there has to be more to his
> story than what we know.  And it's that revelation which will be
> important, and which will turn the tide in the end.  Maybe Snape's
> true redemptive moment has yet to come?
> 


And therein, I'm afraid, lies precisely the problem many people, 
including myself, see with the Good!Snape scenario.  It in effect 
means the books cease being Harry's story and start being Snape's 
story.  I don't think that's what JKR intends (and I think that 
accounts for most of her concern about Snape being so popular).

JKR has implied pretty strongly that she's following the standard 
patterns of coming of age/hero's journey literature.  Whether that is 
a good idea or not is another question, but I think we can take her 
at her word.  That means the story is about a Hero's growing up, and 
in the end facing his challenge alone with HIS OWN DECISIONS being 
the crucial component of the outcome.  Yes, it's true that the actual 
resolution of the story might lie in the hands of a surprise 
character (Gollum, Vader),  but it must be the independent choices of 
the hero that bring everything to the climax.  It was Frodo's 
choices, including his choice to spare Gollum, that brought 
everything to a head at the Crack of Doom.  It was Luke's choice to 
appeal and reach out to his father that redeemed Vader.

The problem with Good!Snape, particularly the Dumbledore'sMan!Snape 
variety of that theory, is that it effect reduces Harry to a puppet.  
The really important choices, in these scenarios, are those that have 
been made by Dumbledore and Snape.  Dumbledore, through his awesome 
and far-seeing plan, and Snape, through his wrenching sacrifices, 
have engineered Voldemort's doom by cementing a traitor at 
Voldemort's right hand, and Harry is simply the first domino that 
will set the process in motion at the final confrontation.

Consider, in order for Dumbledore'sMan!Snape to be true, Harry will 
have never REALLY been alone.  He would have always been supported, 
even at the final moment, by Superspy!Snape.  In order for this to be 
true, Harry's choices have never really been the crucial steps 
leading to the defeat of Voldemort, they are mearly variables in 
Dumbledore's grand plan.  Furthermore, it means that the entire scene 
atop the tower was a play for Harry's benefit, reducing him to a 
credulous dupe led astray by his own prejudices.

I have to confess that I agree with Eggplant in finding this outcome 
contrived, poorly written, and just plain silly.  It would also be 
very, very boring -- Harry was wrong about Snape yet again, how 
terribly original of JKR.  

Now, just because it's Harry's story doesn't mean other characters 
can't change and make effective choices.  In fact, one of my 
arguments with JKR to this point is that she has been so VERY wedded 
to the standard formula that she has missed a lot of interesting 
possibilities in this regard.  But those choices can't be allowed to 
undercut the Hero's status, and Dumbledore'sMan!Snape would do 
exactly that.  If JKR goes in that direction of undercutting the 
Hero's Journey formula, I would have been much more impressed had she 
kept Sirius alive to give Harry love and support -- that at least 
would have been a refreshing and pleasant change of pace.  
Dumbledore'sMan!Snape would just be forced and preachy. 


Lupinlore