Murder = splitting the soul?

[juli17 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 135165

Sherry wrote:

However,  I would say murder is murder, and there is no right cause for
murder.   Soldiers have to kill the enemy, and i think that lets them off  the
hook.  Self-defense is also one that would let you off the hook, i  think.  I
doubt that Harry is going to have to do something as mundane  as actually
kill Voldemort by a curse of some sort, though I have  absolutely no theory
of what he might do.  Even if I begged my best  friend to shoot me, and my
friend did so, that person would go on trial for  murder.  i guess that's why
I get stuck on the good Snape idea.   I can't conceive of *any* reason for
Snape to murder Dumbledore that could  make it right in my eyes.  and what
kind of message would that send to  children?

sherry
 
Julie says:
I agree this is a bit problematic. But I suspect we will find out that DD 
was dying, if not throughout HBP (the dead hand), then after he took his 
second dose of LV's poison in the cave. He clearly was getting weaker
during the whole scene on the tower. He made that enigmatic "after
a fashion" comment about returning from the cave. Which leads to 
another very murky ethical question--Is it murder when you  kill someone
who is already dying?
 
In this case we have a Snape who simply hastened DD's  already 
looming death so it could serve a purpose he and DD had previously
agreed upon, or even Snape who "pulled the plug" on DD's life
support at DD's request (if DD still being alive after his first  brush
with poison via a potion like the Stopper Death one Snape once 
mentioned).
 
And if this is the case, what exactly is Snape guilty of? Murder? 
Mercy killing? Or simply releasing DD to the next great  adventure 
known as Death? And if DD was already dying, does "killing" him 
still leave a stain on Snape's soul?
 
Finally, did DD's comment about "He can't kill you if you're
already dead" have a double meaning--was he speaking not 
just about Draco, but about himself?
 
Julie 
 
 
 






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