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

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 164162

> Betsy Hp:
> <SNIP>
> > The issue here is, I can't think of any themes an ESE!Snape would 
> > reflect.  Not that have been in the story all ready.  I also don't 
> > see how an ESE!Snape adds anything to Harry's story.  It turns 
> what I 
> > see as a tale of growth into the Emperor's New Clothes.  Which I 
> > don't see as the story JKR is telling.  So this is the place where 
> > it's hard to continue the play-acting.  ESE!Snape belongs in a 
> > different story altogether. (IMO, of course. <g>)
> <SNIP>
> 
> Alla:

> 
> But what I do want to know is how Harry moving from hate of Snape to 
> forgiving the Snape is not the character growth, but Emperor new 
> clothes as you said.
> 
Pippin:
Going back to the orginal question...

Forgiving any flavor of Snape fits in with the themes of redemption,
love and forgiveness. What doesn't fit, IMO, is Harry having been right
to suspect Snape from the beginning. That seems to have nothing
to do with those themes. I don't see in the story that  it's Harry's 
extraordinary powers of love that made Harry perceive evil when no one 
else did. If he did, it would be more of an emperor's new clothes
theme, as Betsy said, seeing with the pure eyes of truth, or something
like that. But Harry does not have such a power, and has been
quite unable to detect evil that was sitting right in front of him
and giving him friendly advice.

It was easy for Harry to believe that Snape was an agent of evil 
because he resented Snape's treatment of him. It's a perfectly 
natural normal feeling, but I don't see what it
has to do with an extraordinary power to love. OTOH, if Harry's 
power to love overcomes his resentment, and he sees that his 
resentment blinded him and led him to do to Snape what Snape 
has always done to him, ie, bear false witness against him, that 
will allow Harry to grow much more than if Harry's witness is true. 

I guess from the point of view of Christian themes it would
depend on whether you see Harry as a Christ figure who can
forgive though he has no sin to be forgiven for, or as an 
Everyman whose spiritual progress depends on acknowledging
that he needs forgiveness. 


Pippin