Who Loved Snape?/Snape's Patronus

[julie]

No: HPFGUIDX 171034


> 
> > Eddie:
> > Let's not forget Snape's mother.  Remember the memory that Harry 
saw
> > in OOTP, Chapter 26 "Seen and Unforeseen": the "hook8;nosed 
> man was
> > shouting at a cowering woman, while a small darkR08;haired boy 
> cried in a
> > corner
"  This is presumably Snape and his mother (who presumably
> > loved him).
> 
> zgirnius:
> I have not forgotten the former Ms. Prince. She may have loved 
Snape, 
> but do we have reason to believe that she was one of his victims? 
The 
> idea I got from the quote was that the reason Snape was more 
culpable 
> is that, while he did not commit more, or more heinous, crimes than 
> Voldemort, some of Snape's crimes may have been crimes against 
people 
> who loved him.

Julie:
That wasn't my interpretation. I assumed JKR meant Snape
was more culpable for his crimes because he'd experienced
love and thus its underpinnings of affection, compassion,
and self-sacrifice. Voldemort, having never experienced love,
cannot comprehend these concepts in any internal sense.

I don't think Snape being more culpable than Voldemort gives
us any direct clue to the type or severity of Snape's crimes,
nor does it indicate that he is evil. Conversely, it allows for
Snape's redemption, since his culpability allows for remorse.
In the basic meaning of the word the way JKR used it (IMO),
*Ron Weasley* is more culpable than Voldemort, even if his 
"crimes" are no more than occasional insensitivity to the 
feelings of others. 

Still, Voldemort's lesser culpability in no way excuses his 
actions, nor negates the need to permanently lock him away
or destroy him to keep him from harming others. 

Julie