Would Harry forgiving Snape be character growth for him? Re: CHAPDISC: HBP 29,

[va32h]

No: HPFGUIDX 164110

Betsy Hp:
I guess the problem is that I don't see forgiveness figuring into the 
story if Snape is ESE.  What has he done to invite forgiveness at 
this point?  How is Harry being pushed towards forgiving him?  Do you 
feel that Harry's main goal for DH should be to chase down Snape, 
forgive him, and I guess through the power of his patented Harry-love 
turn Snape towards redemption? Because I don't see any hint of this 
being a theme in the books.

Va32h:

Forgiveness is about the one who is forgiving, not the one who is 
forgiven. 

Snape and Voldemort are as screwed up as they are because they could 
NOT forgive, never forgive. They couldn't forgive their mothers for 
being weak, nor their fathers for being Muggles, nor whatever fate 
gave them the lives they were handed.

In Snape's case, he also has the additional ludicrous childhood 
grudge against the Marauders that he stubbornly hangs on to. And 
Voldemort is exactly the type to remember and nurture any slightest 
wrong. 

Harry needs to forgive for Harry's sake - so that he too is not 
consumed by his hatred and need for revenge. Snape does not need to 
invite Harry's forgiveness, he doesn't even need to accept it, or 
even know about it. 

I don't expect Harry to invest himself in forgiving Snape in DH. But 
at some point in the story, yes, I do think that Harry cannot remain 
pure of soul if he does not forgive. 

Will he also forgive Voldemort? Probably not, that is too much to ask 
of anyone. But I do think that for Harry to successfully vanquish 
Voldemort, he must do it out of a desire to save the wizarding world, 
and not out of a desire to avenge. And part of letting go of that 
vengeance is in letting go of past hurts. Hating Snape will not bring 
Dumbledore back. Forgiving Snape won't either, but it will remove a 
burden from Harry's soul. Hate requires too much energy to sustain.

As for forgiveness not being a theme in the books - I'm sitting here 
totally kerflummoxed at that! It seems to be all over the books to 
me! 


Barbara/va32h