[HPforGrownups] Re: Flashbacks don't always tell the truth (JKR and Occlumency lessons)

[Sherry Gomes]

No: HPFGUIDX 121759

Sherry:
> 
> This is something I've always wondered about the Snape's worst memory
> chapter.  After all, we are only seeing it from Snape's point of view and
in
> a memory that is long past.  It is proven psychologically, that we modify
> our memories a bit to fit a reality we want.  Not totally, not in a
> delusional manner, but we all do it.  We don't know enough about the
pensive
> to know how it shows the memory.  Does it show exactly what happened, or
> Does it only show how someone remembers what happened?  This could be an
> important distinction.  That's why I'm not in a hurry to judge anyone in
> that scene, not the marauders, not Snape nor Lily.  I just think we don't
> know enough yet, and probably, if there's anything significant about that
> scene, it won't be something we expect.  In true JKR style!


Absolutely its true that our memories are not a picture perfect
representation of past 
events and we most certainly manipulate them both consciously and 
unconsciously...However when Harry speaks to Lupin and Sirius neither of
them deny the 
scene in the pensive.  While all may not be as it seems in that scene I
don't think we 
should bend backwards looking for ways to absolve the marauders for their
cruelty.  
Rather I think its critical that Harry recognize that his father had faults
and that good and 
evil are not black and white distinctions....That seems to me to jive with
one of the central 
themes of the book-it is not enough to be a "good guy", goodness is in the
actions of your 
everyday.

just a thought...
allthinghp

Sherry again:

Actually, I agree with that.  I realize my first message could have seemed
to imply that I think the marauders were blameless, which I certainly do
not.  Having had a dad who was a wonderful loving and generally good guy,
but who also had some definite faults--married five times in his life--I
don't think James or Sirius were angels any time, and certainly not in the
pensive scene.  I just think it's possible there's more behind it than we
know.  There's some history that we don't know.  I imagine that the truth is
somewhere in the middle--the marauders weren't as bad as the pensive scene
would have us believe, and the marauders weren't nice wonderful boys all the
time either.  

Sherry