Harry and Snape's redemption

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 150913

> Sherry now:
<SNIP>
> I have a very hard time with the idea that Harry has the deaths of 
Lily,
> Snape and Dumbledore on his conscience.  He was a baby when his 
mother,
> *and* his father were murdered.  As far as I can see, Harry isn't 
going
> around burdened with unreasonable and foolish guilt over what 
happened to
> his parents at 15 months old.

Alla:

I also want to welcome Don to the list.

Yes, Sherry I also don't see any signs of Harry feeling guilt over 
Lily's death in the books and moreover I hope JKR definitely does 
not write it that Harry has such guilt even subconsciously, because 
even though I am not the big fan of the speculations based on JKR 
wanting or not wanting to send certain messages to the audience, I 
cannot imagine JKR telling kids who lost their parents that it is 
somehow their fault. 


Sherry:
 > As for Snape being a poor misunderstood hero, in the manner of 
Gollum:
<SNIP>
> Gollum is no misunderstood tragic hero.  When we learn his 
background, the
> first thing we learn is that he murdered his best friend in order 
to get the
> ring, the very first time he saw the ring.  It didn't have time to 
work its
> slow evil on him in the manner it does with Frodo who is innocent 
at the
> beginning of his association with it.  Gollum was not a nice kid.  
He
> committed murder at his first glimpse of the ring.  The movies 
make Gollum
> more sympathetic than he is in the books, I think.  Yes, Gandalf 
and Frodo
> both feel pity for him, but pity doesn't excuse his actions or 
make him a
> tragically misunderstood hero of any kind.
<SNIP>

Alla:

You know, I agree of course that Gollum is not a misunderstood 
tragic hero, but I can totally see Snape and Gollum comparisons, or 
more correctly, I would LOVE Snape's story arc to have parallels to 
Gollum's for the obvious reasons.

We all know after all what Gollum did to the person who showed him 
kindness and pity.

I mean, his treachery brings victory for Frodo, but that does not 
change Gollum's character, thus if Snape contributes to Voldemort's 
defeat, but remains miserable, hateful bastard, who thinks first and 
foremost about himself, I will definitely see Gollum and Snape 
comparisons.

JMO,

Alla,

who prior to HBP had hopes that Snape's story would have some 
similarities to Boromir's.