[HPforGrownups] Re: Snape commits murder or Merely Unstoppers Death? (long)

[P. Alexis Nguyen]

No: HPFGUIDX 134761

Eggplant wrote:

> Snape sure didn't seem very reluctant to me, hate was etched on every
> line of his face as he killed Dumbledore the instant he walked into
> the room. And Dumbledore would be nuts not to tell Harry about this
> crazy plan, he must understand Harry well enough by now to know that
> he would dedicate his life to killing Snape if he murdered his
> headmaster in front of his very eyes. As it is I wouldn't be surprised
> if in Harry's mind killing Snape now had an even higher priority than
> killing Voldemort; and if that was part of Dumbledore's grand plan it
> doesn't seem like a very good plan.


I concur.  To clarify, I'm actually still holding out judgment on
Snape; I just can't decide on this one, not even after 2.5 readings of
HBP.  However, I certainly am leaning towards ESE!Snape just because
of Harry and his personality [as I view it].  In literary terms, a
"saving people thing" is always coupled with a "ridiculous guilt
complex" thing.  Therefore, if Snape is to be good, I can't see how he
would convey that to Harry, who is utterly convinced of Snape's guilt.
 Because I also see how killing Snape might top killing Voldemort on
Harry's current list of priorities, I have to question how Harry is
going to feel when (if) he finds out that Snape was on the side of
light.  Harry would endure immense guilt for the rest of his life,
made all the worse because he alone could never see any good in Snape.
 However, this guilt is absolved if Snape is to be ESE.  (I'm not
saying Harry wouldn't feel guilt if he had to kill, but I am saying
that he will not feel life-altering, depression-inducing guilt.)  In
addition, I cannot forgive that Dumbledore could so short-sighted as
to not directly tell Harry of this plan, if this was truly a plan. 
(Despite the fact that he may have left some evidence to prove Snape's
innocence, Dumbledore must have understood that Harry would still
always view Snape in contempt because, regardless of the reason, Snape
did deliver the killing blow to Dumbledore, and Harry won't abide by
that.)

In short, what I'm saying is that, while I'm still holding judgment on
Snape, I tend to see towards ESE!Snape because of the literary
tradition as well Harry's personality [as I see it].

~Ali

PS Just how is Snape being ESE make him less interesting of a
character?  I've seen it said; I just don't understand.  I think he's
going to be even more fascinating if he does turn out to be on
Voldemort's side.