Power vs. Trust (was:The Possibilities of Grey Snape...)

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 143064

Pippin_999  wrote:

> 
> This is a series in which childhood, but especially perpetual 
childhood, is
> not seen as an admirable state. We see over and over again that 
childish
> judgement is by definition poor.   I would not expect Harry's 
childish 
> judgement of Snape to be validated.


Gee.  I'm not at all sure where you're getting this from.  Childhood 
is portrayed as inevitably coming to an end, true.  But part of that 
coming to an end ISN'T automatically more sympathy with the adults --
 it is in fact learning that the adults are in fact sometimes deeply 
flawed in choice and character, and sometimes even more malicious 
and incompetent than the child originally thought.  Think of the 
different views of Fudge, for instance, or your bete noir, Lupin, 
that Harry gains as he grows older.  I'm not at all sure the message 
is "It's great and glorious to grow up and throw aside the false 
images of wretched childhood," but something more like "Growing up 
is inevitable and unfortunately very painful in part due to the fact 
that the failings and foolishness and malice of adults become so 
much more apparent.  We just have to deal with it the best we can 
and hold on to our childhood virtues if at all possible."

Pippin:
<SNIP> 

>  Evil!Snape or DDM!Snape is a lot simpler and covered by the 
explanation
> we've already been given: Snape is a good actor and whenever he 
needs
> to, he can pretend. 
> 

Lupinlore:
To quote Juli, *YAWN*.  So we just impose a solution and sweep aside 
whatever is dissonant with a shrug and an explanation that "well, 
Snape was acting."  Seems pretty much like special pleading to me -- 
not to mention poor and lazy writing.
Lupinlore