Snape's lack of remorse

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 124279


 "curlyhornedsnorkack" wrote:
> 
> I have seen loads of post about Snape's (sorry, Professor Snape's)
> turn of heart, but I just can't find a single line in the books to
> support the argument that Snape has any remorse for being a death
> eater (or for being nasty). In at least one scene, I notice the
> opposite. 
> The Following is a quote from GOF, when Snape shows Fudge the death
> eater's mark:  
> 
> "Snape strode forward, past Dumbledore, pulling up the left sleeve 
of
> his robes as he went. He stuck out his forearm and showed it to 
Fudge,
> who recoiled."
> 
> Snape's actions don't sound like those of a man who is at all 
ashamed or embarrassed about his past.

snip

> 
> I would prefer if we could hold this discussion to what's in the 
books
> and whether the books relate in any way to real life, rather than a
> discussion of how wonderful or bad Snape is in your humble opinion.
> 

Potioncat:
What? Not wear our hearts on our sleeves? Well, I'll try.
I'm only responding to one of your examples, because of a time 
constraint on my part. 

If we are only going by what is in the book we are told nothing 
about his emotions, except that he spoke harshly. He admits to being 
a Death Eater, says the mark was burned into each Death Eater. Says 
he could feel it grow stronger. Says he and Karkaroff knew LV was 
coming back.

This is after DD has repeatedly tried to convince Fudge that LV is 
back. And it is to give hard evidence to Fudge of LV's current 
power. I don't see remorse nor do I see lack of remorse. But this 
doesn't seem to be the time to say, "I was a DE and I'm very sorry."

So while I won't say, "Oh, but he must have felt badly about 
whatever he did," I will say, he has exposed his past to the 
Weasleys, MM, Poppy, and Harry. (I think Fudge already knew.) and in 
a moment he will leave to do something that deeply affects both 
himself and DD. I don't think we can say he does not feel remorse. 
For whatever reason, he seems to be going to great lengths to 
repair/repay(?) the things he did in the past. And that is better 
than sitting in shame and keeping it a secret.

How'd I do?
Potioncat