Harry and Snape's Salvation (Re: No progress for Slytherin?)

[sistermagpie]

No: HPFGUIDX 173785

Lupinlore
> I think this is a very good question, but the issue it gets at is 
> terrifically complicated.  I'll approach it here by breaking it 
down 
> into two aspects:  Harry and Snape after Snape's death, Snape and 
> Harry before Snape's death.
> 
> It seems clear to me that what JKR is getting at with her comments 
is 
> that Harry, as appropriate for a Christ-like figure, has 
transcended 
> much of what went before -- particularly he has transcended and 
> become superior to certain personalities.  He has moved beyond 
both 
> Snape and Dumbledore.  Dumbledore says that he has long known that 
> Harry is a better man than he.  Harry is becoming the true figure 
of 
> forgiveness and light and compassion that Dumbledore appeared to 
be 
> but never really was.  If Harry were to be confronted with a 
living 
> Snape, he would probably view him with pity and compassion.

Magpie:
What's scary (to me) is I think you're right, though the last thing 
I'd ever call Harry is compassionate.  What I think Harry is is 
compassionate by the definition this universe (which has little use 
for that particular virtue in any deep way) seems to use for the 
word (the same one that gets HBP!Ginny described as compassionate). 
He, as you say, is "above" people and is "superior" to other 
personalities. He has a very developed sense of justice, and when he 
sees people being picked on who are innocent he sticks up for them. 
Of course he can also torture people who deserve it and that's no 
big deal, because that kind of compassion would make him a plaster 
saint. Forgiving Snape is an action of Christ-like power, as opposed 
to something that would be expected of an ordinary person.

> Lupinlore, who thinks that compassion is an ironic thing, in that 
it 
> tends to scald those to whom it is extended like concentrated acid

Magpie:
A universe in which compassion is a more important virtue, I think, 
it comes out quite differently, however. Sometimes the compassion 
might scald a person, yes, but usually it's based on true empathy 
and more importantly *humility* which is something Harry never ever 
has to learn, because he's superior. That, I think, goes back to 
that article about his development as well.

The story is not about Harry looking at his enemies and seeing 
himself in them, seeing himself as no better than them, which is at 
the heart of compassion, imo. It's Harry the Christ figure granting 
absolution to inferiors, which for me keeps him from ever really 
being a figure of any exceptional compassion at all. I think he's 
far more about justice. Snape *earned* the way Harry feels about him 
by spending a life protecting him and by loving his mother. Harry 
didn't look at Snape and see himself in him and forgive him from 
that position.

To me, the courage-based system vs. compassion-based system is just 
very clear throughout the books and is very consistent, especially 
in the way many of the villains are viewed and forgiven. Even in 
death Snape owes his honor to Harry.

Sorry, that was negative again. I don't mean to put anybody down who 
sees Harry as compassionate. I just don't think he is at all. He's 
got other virtues, but compassion's not something I've really seen 
him have to much develop.

-m