[HPforGrownups] Re: Snape and the "Chosen One" Was: Nice vs. Good - Compassion

[rebecca]

No: HPFGUIDX 153577

> "lupinlore":
>> And nothing else, IMO, will let JKR avoid the reprehensible failure
>> of speaking approvingly of the abuse of children.
>>
>
> Catherine now:
>
<snip>
>
> Like you, I don;t think it will happen that way. But I see JKR
> focussing more on the personal growth and forgiveness from within,
> despite the fact that the abuse goes unapologized for; rather than
> having the apology first. Because in RL, you don't always get the
> apology, and yet you must learn to forgive, or forever be haunted by
> the memories....
>

rebecca, now:

Catherine, your last line of your post is spot on, IMO.

Lupinlore, while I understand what you're trying to say and what you want 
and believe should happen to make this "right", I have a different view. 
Please let me explain why, then proceed to word-whip me as necessary :)

A sincere, humble apology is nothing more than a bunch of words to me, not 
actions indicative of sorrow or remorse. A character like the one we're 
discussing perhaps sacrificing himself for Harry would be one of the most 
compelling actions of redemption - to lay down your life for someone else is 
probably one of the more noble acts in any religion or creed. Death is not 
an event that can be "undone". It's final, and self sacrifice is a choice 
the person actively makes to protect someone else.  It's loud, and 
translates to "I love you" or "I believe in you" regardless of what words 
and deeds have been in the past. And if one is going to point out other 
adults who have been mean or mistreated Harry, I believe that Harry suffered 
just as much abuse at the hands of the Dursleys and Aunt Marge - outright 
neglect can be just as damaging as physical abuse. (None of the 
aforementioned in that sentence I can ever see sacrificing a damn thing for 
Harry or apologizing to him.  But I could be wrong....)

Why do I say this?  Because I do think Snape is positioned as a prime 
candidate for redemption - how else can his part in the story end other than 
redeeming himself with Harry the way I postulate, or just simply being 
killed outright by Voldemort? Harry's going to kill him?  I think not - I 
believe Harry's focus will have to be Voldemort in Book 7 if he is *truly* 
the antagonist in this series. Alas, there's always the chance that JKR 
could trip us up by killing off Voldemort early and stick Snape in that 
anti-hero-and-main-antagonist role, but I just can't envision how that might 
take place.

Either way to me plotwise, Snape is in the sooo dead category. D-e-a-d. My 
perception is Harry can't kill too many people, he's "pure of heart" as 
Dumbledore states in HBP. IMO, he needs to remain so to be Voldemort's 
opposite and vanquish him. Dumbledore specifically reminds Harry how unusual 
he is - in effect, how the suffering he has endured through the years have 
not made him bitter or unfeeling and allegorically, he is not a product of 
his environment as so many are in his situation.  Unlike Voldemort, Harry 
will have to be sincere about his forgiveness of others regardless of who 
wronged him or those he loves to remain "pure", if that's what JKR intends 
for us to believe him to be as a key to Voldemort's defeat.

rebecca,