Young men/bad decisions (was Re: The "choosing evil" difference

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 126507


 
Potioncat:
<SNIP>
Regulus seems to have some respect from fandom because he died 
trying to leave the DEs.  So why is Snape seen differently? 
 
 
SSSusan:
Interesting observation about the timing of two DEs' defections.  
And a fair enough question about why many fans see Snape differently 
than they see Regulus.  

I wonder if the difference isn't that, while we know little about 
Snape, we know even less about Regulus?  <SNIP>
In short, it's much easier to credit an unknown Regulus for his 
bravery & to fantasize about what he might've been than to credit 
Snape for his bravery when we see his limitations & weaknesses all 
the time.


Alla:

I am a little bit puzzled. I don't think I ever assigned Regulus 
deflection more respect than I assigned to Snape, but come to think 
of it, I would argue the opposite to your argument, Susan.

I think the difference between the two is that while we know much 
less about Regulus than we know about Snape, we know more about how 
Regulus deflected than we know about Snape's.

Am I being confusing? We know that Regulus did not have a stomach 
for whatever particular athrocity Voldie and Co wanted him to commit 
and he tried to quit. Yes, I respect him for that.

As to Snape, we know that he told Dumbledore his story and he 
believed it, that is it. I just want to be 100% sure that Snape 
deflected for real and for good reasons. I believe it for the most 
part, but sometimes, I experience tinge of doubt and I don't like it.

When I have no doubt, I respect both men's deflection equally.

Now, that is true that we know more about what happened to Snape 
after he deflected and definitely the bullying part of his 
personality does not get much respect from me, but that does not 
relate to him leaving Voldemort at all.

Just my opinion,

Alla