Dark Magic and Snape (was:Re: CHAPDISC: HBP24, Sectumsempra)

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 161404

> Magpie:
> I am a little hesitatant about saying for sure how Snape was 
recruited, 
> because I think sometimes the idea of Snape being drawn by 
knowledge is 
> separated from Voldemort's Pureblood agenda when it's not.
> 
> Voldemort's Dark Knowledge is, imo, linked to immortality, which is 
also 
> connected to his Pureblood agenda.  Genocide is an expression of a 
> narcissistic desire for immortality: the group is strong and will 
endure 
> forever if the foreign, weaker element is removed like a sickness.  
That's 
> why the group being "cleansed" is often talked about in terms of 
filth or 
> disease, one that's attacking the host from within. (The Black 
Family Motto 
> nicely pairs the two: toujours pur.)

a_svirn:
In general I would agree, but with Voldemort in particular I am not 
so sure. I don't think he is particularly interested in the group 
survival. His narcissism is more straightforward – with only himself 
as its focus. For him pureblood agenda is not really linked with his 
quest for immortality; he is just using the former as a bait for the 
likes of Draco (and Snape?), without being interested in such 
nonsense himself. As it is often the case with fictional villains he 
admitted as much in COS to Harry, when he was about to kill him. I am 
not so sure, however, that he had been this open with his own 
followers. If Sirius to be believed Romulus was attracted by 
the "toujours pur" bit, but as we know almost for sure he tried to 
stop Voldemort from achieving his main ambition. I am guessing he 
hadn't been aware of its nature at first. 

Also, since it is only his own immortality Voldemort is preoccupied 
with, his "dark knowledge linked to immortality" couldn't have been 
much of a lure for Snape, since it wasn't a sort of knowledge 
Voldemort was likely to share. In fact he is liable to kill anyone 
who gets too interested about it. Whatever else Snape might have been 
delusional about in his youth, he surely knew that.