Yet again, the end of Snape's arc (was Re: Real child abuse)

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 145498

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, bawilson at c... wrote:
>
<SNIP>
> 
> Lupinlore, please show me when Snape abused a child.  

Hmmm.  I think one of the best discussions to date is that of Alla in 
messaged 144740:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/144740


I also have a great deal of experience with abused teens -- abused 
literally to death in two cases.  And from my point of view, Snape 
most definitely IS an abuser, over and out.  So are the Dursleys, but 
for some reason they don't get as much press, these days.

But perhaps we might have more luck coming at it this way:  We have 
talked about Snape's child abuse.  We have talked about Wizarding 
World standards.  We have talked to an extent about Dumbledore and 
what he might or might not know.  Let's look at it like this -- what 
do you think should be the outcome of Snape's arc, and how does his 
treatment of Harry and Neville figure into that?  I submit that it 
MUST figure into the outcome of Snape's character arc, and that for it 
to figure as some would like it to, i.e. Harry saying "It's okay, 
you're mean but you're Dumbledore's man," would be reprehensible and 
an abomination beyond belief.  For that matter, what will become of 
the Dursleys and Umbridge.

<Shrug>.  This may well just be a point on which JKR is going to get 
screamed at no matter what she does.  Won't hurt her a bit, but there 
you have it.  It's probably just one of the prices you pay for success 
in the writing world.

And, like I've said in another thread, I have a feeling that no one, 
from the most dyed in the wool ESE theorist to the most rabid DDM 
supporter, is going to be very happy with what JKR does in the last 
book.  She simply doesn't have the time to finish off complex 
character arcs in a satisfactory way and still get through all the 
plot points she has to cover (four horcruxes, the final confrontation 
with Voldemort, a Weasley wedding, etc).  Lots of things are going to 
get short shrift, or at least much shorter than they need.  I have a 
strong feeling that in the end, when it comes to Snape and a lot of 
other people, everyone on all sides is going to be standing around in 
consternation going "You can't mean that's IT?"


Lupinlore