[HPforGrownups] Of course Snape is culpable! (Was Re: Snape culpable)

[IAmLordCassandra at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 134486

 
In a message dated 7/23/2005 12:54:21 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
juli17 at aol.com writes:

Julie  says:

Look at is this way. Is there anyone here that thinks Snape  *isn't*
culpable of something--of a good many things in fact?  Hands?
Anyone?

Didn't think so. OF COURSE Snape is culpable! (So  is
Dumbledore, Harry, and everyone else in the books. We 
are all  culpable for our mistakes and bad actions). Snape is
culpable for his  actions against the Mauraders as a student,
(as they are culpable for their  actions against him), for joinng 
the DEs and performing whatever actions  he did as such, for
telling Voldy the prophecy, and certainly for verbally  abusing 
Neville and Harry (whatever his motives there), etc.  That's
never been in doubt. 

The whole focus with Snape has *always*  been about his
past, and his culpability. Can he redeem himself for  that
dark past? Does he want to redeem himself? Has he in fact 
been  atoning for his past throughout the books (as Dumbledore
certainly seems to  believe), by aiding the Order in whatever
way Dumbledore sees fit--from  protecting Harry, to spying
on Voldemort, to perhaps delivering a  deliberate death blow
to Dumbledore? Very possibly, and in my opinion,  quite
probably. 

I think JKR used the word "culpable" in a very  broad manner
in her interview, simply to draw a distinction between  Snape
ahd Voldemort. Voldemort can't necessarily be held culpable 
for  his actions (though he should pay for them because
he was never loved  (moreover, he's a sociopath who really
doesn't understand or care about  right or wrong). Snape--like
ALL of us who are not sociopathic and do know  what it means
to love and hurt--can and should be held culpable for  his
actions, past and present. Whether Snape turns out to be
good or  ESE, I don't think that's ever been in doubt, to Dumbledore
or to  us.


Cassie replies: 
 
I agree with Julie.  It kind of brings to mind the old saying, "It is  better 
to have loved and lost then never to have loved at all."    Regardless of who 
had [mutual] feelings for Snape or how Snape lost them,  JKR is telling us 
Snape has felt the pain of losing a loved one and therefore  understands what 
that feelings like.   
 
My theory has always been that Snape was in love with someone or had  someone 
who was in love with him.  Mother...lover...doesn't matter.   Then when he 
lost that person, or some other event occurred dealing with  that person, he 
forced himself to stop loving.  I really don't think  he was being noble, though. 
 Remember in OotP in the Occlumency chapter  when he talks about being weak 
and "fools who wear their hearts on their  sleeves"?  I think he saw love as 
something that made him weaker.  So  I think maybe he became less empathetic 
towards others' feelings to the point  where he became apathetic. 
 
~Cassie~


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