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

[Lawrence Carlin]

No: HPFGUIDX 134500

Julie:
> 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 <snip>
> 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.
>

Larry:

I disagree. It isn't about whether Snape or Voldemort
feel remorse for their respective actions. Or whether
they feel compassion for their victims. Whether
voldemort is a sociopath is also beside the point.

One of the main thematic thrusts of the series is that
each character is defined by the choices that
character makes. I know that I don't want to say that
a character such as Voldemort is somehow less
culpable, or responsible for his choices because of
his, shall we say, rather skewed world view.



> 
> 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.   


Larry:

I think it is the choice and only the choice. Whether
a good decision is arrived at through cold,
calculating reason, or a deeply heartfelt passion,
doesn't really matter. Whether our favorite potions
master could identify with the pain he caused is not,
at least to me, important. For me it comes down to
this, Snape has had, throughout the books, innumerable
opportunities to either cause pain, or to not cause
pain; he chose to cause pain. So doesn't his
culpability stem from his choices, not the feelings,
or the lack of feelings that may lie behind those
choices?

Larry 

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