JKR and Occlumency lessons (was Re: Snape and Occlumency)

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 121740


Reed:
I think the reason JKR invented those Occlumency lessons was to show
what happens if Harry and Snape are paired together - not as teacher 
and student, which is still a comparatively distant relationship, but
only the two of them, forced to cooperate on an important and very 
difficult, emotionally challenging task. The occlumeny lesson setup 
made for very interesting scenes that showed the characters' struggle
to deal with their mutual dislike to serve the cause. (I know, I
can't tell for sure what Snape was thinking, but I tend to think he 
honestly tried to do what Dumbledore asked of him.) JKR created a 
lot of tension by giving glimpses of hope that their relationship 
might improve and then dramatically shattering these hopes by the 
pensieve disaster that ended the lessons. 
 
Perhaps it is true that from a rational point of view it's somewhat
problematic to fully justify Dumbledore's decision to pick Snape 
of all people to teach Harry, but from a narrative point of view 
this constellation is great! 

snip.

And btw: I, for my part, thought Occlumeny
>with Snape made some of the  most exciting scenes in book 5 :-).



Alla:

>From this POV I have no choice but to agree with you. Of course, 
Occlumency scenes make for EXCELLENT read, no question about it and 
of course when I look at the story from outside, I acknowledge that 
picking Snape as a teacher was perfect choice in order to maintain 
dramatic tension and to add more Harry!angst in the story (as if we 
did not have enough already).

Numerous problems start (and of course I am only speaking for 
myself) when we look at the story from within, THEN I start ranting 
at the said choice of the teacher.


Just my opinion,

Alla.