[HPforGrownups] Re:Snape/Lily love or obsession

[doliesl at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 172934

>Wolf wrote:

It is a fine line between love and obsession. 

tracygee:

As others have commented, Snape certainly showed a lot of obsessive qualities in his "love" for Lily.  I think the important part, though, is that he did "love" her as best he could.  

Rowling several times points out in the books that what makes Voldermort truly evil is his inability to love.  He can't possess Harry because he can't stand the feeling of love.  Snape--for all his faults, and there are plenty of them--is at least able to feel some type of love for Lily.  His family background was not full of loving parents, a stable home life, lots of friends and positive role models.  He's an outcast--unloved by his parents or any friends.  Lily, from what we see, is the only female who gives him any type of positive attention.  He grew up with her and grew to care for her, even though he had no idea how to express these feelings.  I believe his ability to love Lily is what changes him completely.  Were it not for her, he certainly would have been a Death Eater 100% behind Voldermort until the end.  With her death, and the guilt this brought to Snape, he is saved.  Dumbledore gives Snape a way to make Lily's death mean something.  Help us defeat
 Voldermort; help us keep Harry safe.

His love was not the stuff Harlequin romances are made of.  Snape's love is not romantic, brave or normal in a lot of ways.  It was--yes--obsessive, unrequited and jealous at times.  Unrequited love is not fun.  It soured him in a lot of ways.  In the end, though, it was faithful and strong enough to help him turn from his evil ways.  

Back to lurkdom.



D:

I agree. I don't understand why some people must insist it being either obsession or love, as if there cannot be anty obsessiveness in love, nor any love in obsession, as if power of love can only have one ' why can't it be an obsessive love?  Isn't there a quote from HBP by Slughorn (no book with me, so can't look up page no. nor exact quote) about the how immensely powerful obsessive love can be. When I read that back then I was aware that as a possible clue to Lollipop. No one is really delusion in comparing Snape's love as some ideal perfect fluffy love. I think some people mention the allusion to literary archetype like Heathcliff, instead it's a redemptive force for Snape, not destructive one like Heathcliff. 

D.



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