Snape's role (was:JKR and the Problem or Three (was Re: Cultural standards ...)

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 144542

> >>Orna:
> <snip>
> Even DD never seems to love him as a person, he sees him as a     
> person not outgrowing his childish grievances, and sometimes even 
> mocks him. I think part of Snape's hatred towards Harry has to do, 
> that he earns DD's love effortless, while Snape never comes near   
> to such a feeling from DD, in spite of his magical knowledge, in   
> spite of his help for the order.

Betsy Hp:
Hmm, I disagree with this.  For one, I *do* think Dumbledore loves 
Snape.  And I think Snape realizes it.  Snape may not think he's 
*worthy* of that love, but I think he must realize it's there.  I 
just cannot see Dumbledore trusting someone to the extent he trusts 
Snape (more than any other character in some ways) without also 
loving him.

I think the only person Snape expressed a certain amount of jealousy 
towards was Lupin.  And I think that was tied up with his feelings 
regarding the Marauders and their golden boy status that enabled 
them to survive an attempted murder without being expelled (from 
Snape's POV, anyway).  I also think Snape got over his jealousy - at 
least regarding Lupin.  After all, Lupin proved himself less 
trustworthy than Snape in PoA.

> >>Orna:
> <snip>
> Even Draco treats him without respect, without any trust towards   
> him.

Betsy Hp:
Draco was going through a particularly hard time.  He'd just found 
out that the good guys (the Death Eaters and Voldemort, from Draco's 
POV) were actually not that good.  So his lack of respect towards 
Snape in the Christmas Party scene came from all of that, rather 
than an actual dislike of Snape.  I believe that usually Draco quite 
liked Snape and admired him.

> >>Betsy Hp in 144301:
> > Anyway, I have a feeling that dealing with the bed he's made is
> > Snape's ultimate task. Earning Harry's trust may be the only way
> > for him to achieve true redemption, and probably the only way for
> > Harry to defeat Voldemort.

> >>Orna:
> I don't think that Snape alive will earn anything like that. I 
> think, he will help Harry defeat Voldemort, but in his secretive 
> way, thus never earning the respect he should get. I think that 
> maybe after his death, Harry may be able to understand something 
> there. I'm not sure, but I really can't see Snape and Harry being 
> able to have any conversation without bursting into waves of hate, 
> mistrust and more misunderstanding. 

Betsy Hp:
Coming at this from the view that the story is about Harry, I think 
Harry *must* get over his feelings of hate towards Snape, must see 
Snape clearly, in order to prevail.  Otherwise Harry will be 
following in Snape's footsteps.  

I don't think Snape will survive the series, but I'm not sure how 
tragic JKR wants to write his end.  If Snape dies believing that he 
has failed his task and Harry will refuse his aid, than Snape ends 
tragically.  But if Snape dies but knowing that he's helped Harry 
defeat Voldemort than at last his redemption has been achieved and 
he can die at peace.  A sad but not totally tragic ending.

> >>Jen:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/144503
> <snip>
> Which comes full-circle to Snape. What does JKR need for him to do
> in Book 7? My personal opinion is she needs to inspire Harry's
> compassion and also to help him understand what mistakes Snape made
> that pulled him toward dark magic and LV's camp. The way to do that
> will be to continue the story started in OOTP, with the bits from
> the Occlumency lesson and Snape being the target of bullying, and
> add to that story in such a way that Harry will realize who Snape
> IS. Not who Harry thinks he is, but the full story of how Severus
> Snape became the person standing in front of Harry whom he hates
> *even more* than the evil monster who killed his parents, set-up
> Sirius and possibly (IMO) manipulated the killing of Dumbledore.

Betsy Hp:
I totally agree.  Unless JKR is actually writing about the creation 
of another Dark Lord (which I seriously doubt) Harry *must* come to 
a point where he *sees* Snape.  Something Snape, himself, has done a 
lot to prevent Harry from doing.  Perhaps because Snape thought 
Dumbledore could soothe any hurt feelings away.  But now Dumbledore 
is gone, and Snape is all Harry has.

Betsy Hp