7 reasons why - The Glass is Half Empty.

[juli17 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 175036




Julie H.:

his allegiances never are clear, imo. He
appears to be DDM grudgingly, almost in spite of himself, through some idea
that this is
what he owes Lily -- not through any growing realization that DD's side is
indeed morally
superior to LV's side. He does not seem to have progressed from "I'm
suffering because I
lost Lily" to "I want to be DDM because i'd rather serve good than serve
evil." He does not,
really, appear to have transcended his fascination with the dark side, other
than the choice
he made that resulted in Lily's death. He is DDM solely because he loves
Lily, not because
he loves DD or hates LV.



Julie (E):
I think Snape's allegiance does become clear by the end of the Pensieve
scenes. He does *become* DDM grudgingly, because of his love for Lily and
his belief that he owes her. But there is a definite progression in his
attitude as time progresses. Initially it's all Lily, but later he starts
to save others for their own sake (he replies to Dumbledore's observation
that he's seen others die by saying "Lately, only those I cannot save.").
And indeed we see him later save Lupin for no other possible reason than
that he thinks it's the right thing to do (he deliberately jeopardizes 
his position to save a man he at best dislikes and at worst loathes and
believes is weak and relatively worthless). When he finds out Harry, the
boy he's been so intent on protecting and saving all FOR LILY, is being
set up to die for the good of the WW and the defeat of Voldemort/evil, 
he isn't happy about it, but he doesn't revert back to doing what would
be best for Lily/Lily's son. Rather he proves to be more DDM!Snape here
than Lily!Snape, indicating allegiance to a principle (betterment of the 
WW, defeating Voldemort) than to a single person (Lily).

You many read it differently, but JKR did insert those few facts that
show a Snape no longer solely devoted to only what serves Lily and his
love/guilt over her, a Snape who through long association with Dumbledore
has changed his thinking and adopted certain principles. (This doesn't
change his basic unpleasant personality or his petty grudgeholding over
past events though.)


Julie (E)




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