Defense of Snape in POA. Was:Re: Snape, Apologies, and Redemption

[Bruce Alan Wilson]

No: HPFGUIDX 152826

> Leslie41:
> "Keeping the plot interesting" does not constitute a defense of 
> the character's actions morally.  It's a cop out.

Lupinlore: 
>> EXACTLY!  Which is precisely, IMO, why Dumbledore's reprehensible
failure to intervene at the Dursleys or to prevent Snape's abuse of
Harry cannot be excused on those grounds -- which it often is.  "If 
DD had restrained the Dursleys the story would be boring."  "If DD 
had restrained Snape the story would be boring."  Nonsense!  Such an
excuse is only a cop out, and in no way gets the "epitome of 
goodness" out of the hot water his manifold sins of omission have 
landed him in. <<


BAW:
Of course, I could reiterate that Snape, as mean and nasty as he is, is
not an abuser; I could again point out that meanness and nastyness do not
constitute abuse in and of themselves; I could point out that for all his
faults Snape is an EFFECTIVE teacher, in that even Harry got an E (more or
less the same thing as a B+) on his Potions Owl.  But I won't go into
that, as we have hashed it out quite thoroughly.

The Dursleys are another matter; I don't understand why DD didn't
intervene before HBP.  All I can think is that (a) the Blood Protection
was the only way to keep Harry alive, and that as miserable as Harry's
life with the Dursleys was, it was a LIFE, which is better than the
alternative; and (b) before he realized how horrid the Dursleys were, DD
agreed that in exchange for the Dursleys taking Harry in, he would not
interfere in how they chose to raise him (and, of course, by the time he
realized his error it was too late; we know how the wizardling world feels
about contracts.)  But I acknowledge that this is rather weak, and hope
that we learn more in Book VII.

One thing I noticed when I re-read PS/SS was that the Dursleys were trying
to keep Harry from his wizardling heritage because they considered it
DANGEROUS.  It seems that, as mean and wrongheaded as they were, they are
trying to protect him. And Vernon seems to love Petunia.  So perhaps the
Dursleys aren't all bad.  (I can't think of any redeeming qualities for
Dudley.)

BAW