Evil Snape

[Renee]

No: HPFGUIDX 154307

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "pippin_999" <foxmoth at ...> wrote:
>
> > Renee:
> > You're right, Harry's wrong to misrepresent Dumbledore's words, but I
> > still fail to see why this is arrogant. Harry ignores the possibility
> > that he's missed something, that Dumbledore's assessment of Snape was
> > correct, not because he's an arrogant prick who thinks he's always,
> > right, but because he insists on believing the worst of Snape. I'd
> > rather call this bias or prejudice. Harry is also judgmental (and not
> > just in this scene) and needs to learn to reserve judgement until he's
> > got all the facts. But to me, that's not the same as arrogance. I've
> > looked up a dictionary definition of the term, and I don't think it
> > describes Harry Potter: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/arrogance
> >
> 
> Pippin:
> What was arrogant, in the sense of an unwarranted assumption of
> superiority, was for Harry to think that his judgement was better than
> Dumbledore's. Especially in regard to Snape, where Harry knew that 
> Dumbledore's information was more complete than his, it was arrogant 
> for Harry to assume that he was right and Dumbledore, "the
> greatest wizard Harry had ever, or would ever, meet,"  was wrong.  
> 
> That Harry then unconsciously altered facts to fit his opinion was the 
> result of  this arrogance if not an example of it.

Renee:
Well, Harry has just seen Snape kill Dumbledore (yes, I know you think
it was the potion in the cave, but this possibility hasn't occurred to
Harry at this point; the whole disaster has yet to sink in properly).
So I don't think it's particularly arrogant of him to assume DD made a
mistake in trusting Snape. He's got information that DD hadn't when he
made that statement. On the surface, the facts are against DD's trust
and Harry lacks some crucial information, partially due to DD's own
reticence. He has also heard DD admit a mistake at the end of OotP, a
mistake that cost Harry dearly. (One wonders if DD shouldn't have
known better than to keep information from Harry after the OotP
fiasco). The conclusion he jumps to, though perhaps not precisely
commendable, is understandable. He's not being arrogant but giving in
to his hatred of Snape, a different flaw, which also accuonts for his
altering of the facts.