Christian Forgiveness and Snape (was Would Harry forgiving )

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 164431

Magpie:
> If this scene was supposed to make me feel impressed by
> Dumbledore's caring about Harry, it failed (for me and for many 
> other people).   
 
> Alla: 
> Yes, yes, yes. Sometimes I am thinking whether JKR truly meant for
> us to be impressed by Dumbledore's single tear at the end of his 
> speech, sigh, or just laugh at it. Because when I read it I either
> want to laugh or slap him. But I am thinking that was meant to be
> sentimental moment indeed. Nah, felt flat for me as well,
> **really** flat.

Jen:  I've been rethinking my intepretation of the speech, that its 
importance can be understood by Dumbledore's remark:  'Because you 
are not nearly as angry with me as you ought to be.' 

Dumbledore speaks more plainly to Harry than ever before, bringing to 
light many things that have hurt Harry during the year and over the 
course of his life.  And as he explains his own role in the events of 
the year as well as historical matters such as the blood charm, 
Dursleys and the prophecy, Dumbledore offers rationalizations and 
justifications for his choices.  IOW, he is telling Harry not what he 
feels in his heart but an almost Pensieve-like recollection of how 
the events occurred and how he made the choices he did at each 
juncture.

The conclusion of the talk is actually the moment in HBP when Harry, 
armed with both the historical facts from the previous year and the 
speculative ones about the Horcruxes, makes his own final 
choice: 'I'd want him finished, and I'd want to be the one to do 
it'.  

I see a place for the tear in this intepretation that doesn't work as 
well when viewing the speech as Dumbledore's big remorse or apology 
speech.  One tear seems so inadequate after everything he's told 
Harry, everthing he's done *to* Harry.  And the most significant 
thing of all, something barely even touched on, is that Harry doesn't 
blame him or tell him he's a heinous person and walk away.  Harry 
listens to him and by listening, allows Dumbledore to finally confess 
what he has done.  When Harry chooses to stay with him even afer 
hearing how Dumbledore contributed to his suffering, Harry is 
offering an absolution of sorts.  

Then Dumbledore speaks at the end 'hesitantly', and brings up the 
absurd point about not offering Harry a prefect badge which is so 
trivial next to what they've been discussing.  In that moment, 
Dumbledore strikes me as a man who knows there's nothing adequate he 
can say for what has just occurred, that *he* has just been offered 
mercy by the one person he desperately hoped would give him a second 
chance.


Jen