Whither Snape AND the Dursleys AND Umbridge?

[Miles]

No: HPFGUIDX 144889

dumbledore11214 wrote:
> LOVE all your punishments Jen! :-)

Miles:
I love them as well, although I do not think that punishments for all the
bad characters are necessary for the last book to be morally intact. What I
like most with Jen's ideas is, that they are playful, not gravely,
impressionistic, not counting. To see bad characters punished - yes, it is
fun, as it is to see good characters being rewarded. But it should not
happen in a predictable way, like in bad films.

> Lupinlore:
> Ah, but that's just the point, isn't it?  His death penalty is not for
> his abuse of Harry and Neville, but rather for his murder of
> Dumbledore and perhaps for his former activity as a DE.

Miles:
And here we have what I would dislike ;).
First: this 'to kill him is not enough' strongly reminds me of Britney
Spears, sorry Lupinlore: "I am for the death penalty. Who commits terrible
acts must get a fitting punishment. That way he learns the lesson for the
next time."
What on earth would justify to expect punishment beyond killing someone? I
simply do not understand that you want to see Snape tantalised *and* killed?

But just another thought. Most people feel, that Snape will die in book 7, I
am among them. But I disagree, that Rowling will have him killed as a
punishment for whatever. Besides I personally think death penalty is a crime
in real life, and I dislike it in fiction as well, obviously Rowling does
not see death as appropriate punishment at all.
We have three examples for this:
- When Harry spares Peter's life in PoA, he is praised by the moral
authority of all the books, by Albus Dumbledore himself.
- I think it is in OotP, where Lupin (and he is a moral authority as well,
at least for Harry) tells Harry about Moody's Auror past and praises him for
not killing the DEs, but bringing them to Azkaban, whereas Crouch sr is
presented as a bad example for an Auror, because he does not arrest, he
kills.
- Finally, Crouch jr is killed by Dementors on orders of Fudge, and this is
presented as a crime.

So, death is not a punishment that Rowling presents us as a punishment
anyone deserves. The only exception seems to be Voldemort himself, if we
consider the last discussions of Harry and Dumbledore about Harry's mission.
But if you ask me, Harry will not literally kill Voldemort. And if he will
not do this, or will be unable to do it when he has the chance (but will
overcome Voldemort nevertheless), that is much more important for the moral
message of the series than any other punishment for what character ever.

Miles