The Needs of Snape's Redemption (was Re: Heroes or not)

[susanbones2003]

No: HPFGUIDX 145233

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "lupinlore" <rdoliver30 at y...> 
wrote:
>> Betsy: 
> > So book 7 won't *introduce* the redemption of Snape.  It will 
> > *reveal* a redemption well under way.  *Harry* will have to 
> > recognize Snape for who he really is, see Snape as Dumbledore 
saw 
> > him.  
> 
> But the problem with that, for many of our perspectives, is that 
> Harry's recognition CAN NOT come without penance and payment from 
> Snape for many things  -- payment and penance made specifically TO 
> HARRY.  For Harry to say, "Oh, you've been paying all this time, I 
> realize that now," WITHOUT payment from Snape TO HIM for the 
things 
> Snape has done to hurt Harry would be, IMO, a moral abomination.  
> Payment made under the supervision of Dumbledore in no way lessens 
> the specific wrongs Snape has done TO HARRY, and those wrongs MUST 
> be acknowledged and specific restitution made within the context 
of 
> that relationship.  Now, payment can be of many kinds, but will 
> probably (and should probably) include strong elements of both 
> karmic punishment, as discussed in another thread, and a genuine 
> apology from Snape to Harry.  And redemption, for those of use who 
> feel quite strongly that Snape IS a child abuser, MUST cover BOTH 
> his actions against Harry's parents AND his abuse of Harry, 
> himself.  Anything else would, IMO, constitute a deep moral flaw 
in 
> the final structure of the books.  
> 
> Is JKR trying to tell a moral story?  She keeps saying she is, and 
> therefore moral questions apply.  I would say she's got a serious 
> problem on her hands if she doesn't plan to deal rather 
specifically 
> with the particular relationship of Snape and Harry.  As I've said 
> before, from many of our perspectives, saying that "Snape is DDM! 
> and has been paying all along" doesn't fly any day of the week and 
> doesn't fly twice on Sunday.  So, to come back to your original 
> question, even if Snape is DDM! he is not redeemed, IMO and that 
of 
> others, without dealing specifically with many other issues.  
Sorry.
> 
> 
> Lupinlore

>
 I do not believe you are going to be satisfied with the outcome of 
the final book and just how are you going to punish JKR if she 
doesn't set Snape up to apoligize to Harry? In all probability your 
scenario is not going to happen. Your very precise definition of 
child abuse is wonderful in a perfect world where bad things do not 
happen but she's writing about a world where awfully bad things 
happen, much worse than what Snape has done to Harry. Where are you 
going to find the justice for all the innocent lives LV has taken? 
Where are you going to find the justice for the precious time the 
Ministry wasted pretending he wasn't back? Where are you going to 
find all the justice needed to right all the wrongs? There are many 
many more and of much greater degree than the treatment Snape gave 
Harry. What about Umbridge? Has she paid enough for her sins against 
Harry? The Dursleys? Spend some time looking at all the various and 
sundry injustices and spread the anger and blame. A person is not 
helpless or of lesser value if they can not get all the wrongs 
committed against them righted. Yes, fighting for justice is noble 
and a high calling but sometimes you have to prioritize who to go 
after first. I don't think it's Snape. Just as Harry is the hero, 
Lord Voldemort is the villain.
Jen D