Is Snape good or evil?

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 149016

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "pippin_999" <foxmoth at ...> 
wrote:
<SNIP>
> Harry, in siccing  the ministry on his hated but innocent enemy, 
> repeats the error Snape made when he carried the prophecy to 
> Voldemort, which is in turn an echo of Snape being sent to the 
> werewolf. I'm not a Christian or a scholar of Christianity, but 
> isn't it a rather prominent message that forgiveness should be 
> granted to others because we need it ourselves? 

Lupinlore:
Yes, it is.  But there is a difference between a well-balanced story 
about forgiveness and a tale that, at least in my opinion, would be a 
morally reprehensible approval of the abuse of children.  The problem 
with this scenario, I believe, is that it in effect makes Snape the 
hero of the tale, or at least its moral center, and thus approves of 
his unforgiveable (and I use that word quite deliberately) actions.


Pippin: 
> The apparent treachery on the tower becomes a possible foreshadowing
> of the much bangier betrayal of Harry himself. 

Lupinlore:
Well, I would say that Harry has been betrayed already, and several 
times.  I'm not sure how much more can be milked from that one.

Pippin: 
> I agree there's a message about trust. But if you are not going to
> trust anybody who makes mistakes, then you are not going to trust
> anybody. Trusting Dumbledore, not because he's Dumbledore, not
> because he's perfect,  but because, for as long as you've known 
> him, he's been trying to help you and protect you, seems to be a 
> good bet. 

Lupinlore:
Also turning a blind eye while people abuse you, witholding 
information from you, and generally behaving in a reprehensible and 
moronic way.  Oh yeah, I would definitely hold someone like that in 
high regard and see them as worthy of trust.

Pippin: 
> Trusting someone who went wrong once, but whose behavior over
> sixteen years has been consistent,  if far from flawless, also 
> seems promising. 

Lupinlore:
And who is, I believe, a reprehensible abuser of children whose 
behavior cannot be approved of, unless JKR wants to be an abominable 
and unspeakable moral failure.    Not, I think, a very promising way 
of doing things.

Pippin: 
> Trusting someone who's really nice, but who has let you down 
> numerous times and never taken responsibility for the consequences?
> Erm....

Lupinlore:
Sure.  What's wrong with that?  Niceness has its reward, and trust 
and good favor is one of them.


Lupinlore