Snape/Harry coincidence?

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 140278

Carol:
> Could the SS/PS and GoF passages I've quoted also be deliberately
> coincidental, the later recalling the earlier to create a parallel
> between Harry and Snape? Why else would JKR have the narrator
> deviate from the normal POV to describe SS/PS Harry from the outside
> and then repeat virtually the same description for a character Harry
> hates three books later?
 
> I suggest that it's because Snape, like Harry, is performing an act 
of
> selfless courage in opposition to Voldemort. His action cannot in
> itself save Hogwarts or Harry, but it's a vital step in Dumbledore's
> plan to save the WW. Whatever the explanation for HBP Snape, the pale
> face and glittering eyes suggest an almost fanatical willingness to
> risk death for Dumbledore's cause, exactly like Harry preparing to
> enter the corridor in SS/PS.

Jen:  I remember a thread on the number of times JKR has the narrator 
step back from Harry's POV and they are more frequent in PS/SS & COS 
than the other books (correct me here, Carol). In the past I've 
chalked it up to her style of writing in the earlier books. Also, the 
passage in GOF would not be a POV shift, right? Harry is in the room 
and seeing this interaction, or is there a subtle shift I'm not 
picking up on? I would find it more than coincidental if the narrator 
steps back both times.

That's not to say I don't see a huge parallel between Harry and Snape 
already.

Prior to OOTP, I read Snape as the unsympathetic antagonist to the 
hero. Voldemort was supposed to be the classic antagonist I suppose, 
but since he was more of a phantom & completely absent in POA, Snape 
appeared to play that role in my mind. He didn't read as evil so much 
as annoyingly interfering!

So I felt wrong-footed by OOTP--why was JKR suddenly showing us what 
Snape and Harry have in common? Harry identified more with Snape than 
James after viewing the Pensieve scene. Then during the Occlumency 
lessons, Harry is 'unnerved' seeing the memory of the crying boy and 
realizing that person is standing before him with 'loathing' in his 
eyes. Both have seen each other's memories and none are pleasant on 
either side. And the loathing goes both ways, it seems, at least from 
Harry's POV.

Then HBP comes along and there are *more* commonalities. Donna 
mentions a good one, Harry's obsession with Draco as similar to 
Snape's obsession with the Marauders. Harry learns from the HBP in a 
way he never learned from Snape, and Hermione draws the conclusion 
that Snape's DADA speech was similar in tone & style to Harry's 
speeches about Voldemort. Last, but most important, both have 
Dumbledore's trust, and that trust led to the parallel scenes in the 
cave and on the tower.

To mix things up even more, JKR shows us boy Riddle and we see how 
very different he and Harry were from a young age. The similarities 
she drew for us in COS have given way to differences, while the 
connections with Snape grow in number.

So JKR has adequately prepared us for Snape/Harry being 
more 'personal' than Harry/Voldemort, as she said in the TLC/MN 
interview. All that's left is finding out Snape loved Lily--Oh please, 
no, that one is too much for me ;)! Regardless, I think Harry *will* 
see Snape with Lily's eyes of compassion one day, and only then will 
Harry (and readers) see him for exactly who he is.
 
Jen, thinking of Lily now and wondering if there's anything that woman 
couldn't do?