Forgiving Snape / was Re: Harry's potential father figures /Religion in HP

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 131145

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Sherry Gomes" <sherriola at e...>
wrote:
> Tonks:

> 
> 1. It allows Harry to move on with his life and not be bound to 
> Snape because of his anger towards Snape. Harry can let it go for 
> his own sake. This is good mental health. As the saying goes the 
> best way to get even with an enemy is to live well. 

Perhaps in actual life - for certain kinds of people with certain
kinds of belief systems in certain kinds of situations.  For other
kinds of people with other beliefs in other situations this just ain't
gonna work.  As a psychologist friend of mine who specializes in abuse
cases often says, "sometimes nothing in the world is healthier than
hatred."

The philosophy of whether Harry should forgive Snape can be argued in
either direction from multiple standpoints.  From a certain
perspective it would be healthy to do so, and morally appropriate. 
>From another moral and psychological perspective it would be selfish
and irresponsible.  In one kind of situation it might be a sign of
maturity and even a kind of vengeance (as Horace Bushnell said "oh
what a terrible thing it is to be forgiven").  In another kind of
situation it would be profoundly unhealthy and destructive of self. 
Some hold that time heals all wounds.  Others, such as Emily
Dickinson, say that time only makes the scars deeper and stronger.

But the question at hand here is would it make for a good story?  I
think if done explicitly and for the reasons stated here, the answer
is "no."  It would amount to preaching and heavy-handed moralizing of
the type JKR claims to hate.

> 
> Sherry now
> 
> Why does there need to be either retribution or forgiveness?  I would
> consider Harry to be acting in a very mature fashion, if he decided
he still
> hated Snape's guts, realized he had to work with him till Voldemort was
> defeated, then turned his back on Snape and never dealt with him again.
> Neither forgiving nor taking vengeance, but living his life with
Snape not
> affecting it either way.  I don't think Harry has to forgive to be
mature or
> even to be the better man.  I think he can choose to do neither and
allow
> indifference to be his main feeling toward Snape someday.  And even
if he
> does forgive, let us remember, that forgiveness does not necessarily
mean
> forgetting.  
> 

Once again, I think we need to ask what would make a good story.  What
would be an appropriate and believable end to the character arcs
traced by these two people?  Within the context of the story JKR has
laid out so far, coming to such a non-end would hardly be satisfying
or particularly logical.  Now, I grant you that such happens in life
often enough, but stories are not the real world.  They operate by an
internal logic and process often quite different than reality.  And
the particular processes of the Harry/Snape relationship so far don't
seem to admit of such a conclusion (or lack thereof).  In order to
make this "fit," JKR would have to alter their trajectory radically. 
So far we have seen little evidence of this.  HBP may provide it - and
I think will have to provide it if JKR wants such an end and hopes to
pull it off.


Lupinlore