Seeing gray in a black and white book/Free passes to characters

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 165110

> >>Lilygale:
> I'm responding to the idea of "intent" just to make the point that 
> intent is a multi-layered thing.  Taking the neo-Freudian view, our 
> intentions come from our conscious (ego) but also unconscious 
> elements (the "Dark Side" id and the "Light Side" superego, to 
> oversimplify shamelessly).  
> In OotP, what could JKR mean when she says Harry does not really 
> want to use Crucio?  My (neo-Freudian) interpretation is that Harry 
> really and truly has an instinctive, id-driven desire to hurt 
> Bellatrix in retaliation for killing Sirius.  At the same time (and 
> this is what determines Harry's moral stance), his ego and superego 
> restrain his behavior by tempering his emotions. 
> <snip>
> In HPB, when Harry's id *may* be  more strongly in control (we      
> don't know for sure but perhaps his hatred may be stronger towards 
> Snape than Bellatrix), we as readers are not allowed to see if his 
> ego/superego would overcome his id – Snape acts as his conscience 
> for by blocking the curses.  
> 
> So how does this neo-Freudian analysis translate to the bathroom 
> scene?  Harry thinks of the Prince as his friend and ally.  But the 
> Prince has allied himself with Harry's id.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
Fascinating post, Lilygale!  It makes sense that the Prince is 
building up Harry's id, since we know young!Snape was a seething 
bundle of rage and resentment that made him ripe for Voldemort's 
picking.  But I find it very cool that current day Snape is working 
to control or check that id.  

We have the Occlumency lessons speech about "fools wearing their 
hearts on their sleeves" (to paraphrase) which I think most readers 
assume is Snape speaking from experience.  And in the bathroom Snape 
comes to clean up the mess made by Harry and the Prince.

Not that I'm saying Snape himself is a perfect balance of id and 
superego. <g>  But I do think he might recognize the path Harry is 
heading down.  Hence his ability to so easily counter Harry during 
their final confrontation in HBP.  Snape's been there himself.

> >>Lilygale who hopes that Harry will achieve the "moral            
> alchemists'" goal, the spiritual equivalent of the Philosopher's    
> Stone.

Betsy Hp:
Hmm, another thought: could an argument be made that Voldemort is id 
and Dumbledore superego?  That Harry is supposed to achieve the 
perfect blend of both?

Ooh, hey!  Another thought: Snape is influencing and shaping Harry's 
id, and hmm, Lupin I guess(?) is shaping Harry's superego?  Yeah, I'm 
not sure I'm buying that myself.  I'll stop while I'm ahead-ish. <g>

Betsy Hp