Dumbledore's Euthanasia (Was Re: Snape's dilemma)

[Goddlefrood]

No: HPFGUIDX 166111

> > Alla:

> > Except of course there is that "murder splits the soul" 
> > assertion in canon and a question whether Dumbledore would 
> > have asked **anyone** especially one of his own to split 
> > that soul, benefits for WW or not, necessity to save other 
> > people or not.

<SNIP>

> zgirnius responded, in part:
> It also depends on what one believes tears the soul apart. 
> Personally, I think we are to understand Sluggie's explanation 
> to mean that mere *killing* does not. 

> The definition of murder I believe is relevant is killing with 
> malicious intent.

<SNIP> - But with some comments to be made on snipped parts;)

Goddlefrood wades in:

It is correct to state that the supreme act of murder splits the 
soul, but you don't have to believe me, here's what Uncle Horace
said, trying not to be out of context:):

"' ... Splitting it is an act of violation. It is against nature.'
'But how do you do it?'
'By an act of evil - the supreme act of evil. By committing 
murder. Killing rips the soul apart. The wizard intent upon 
creating a Horcrux would use the damage to his advantage: he 
would encase the torn portion ... '"

Now, effectively what that means is that murder splits the soul.
I doubt very much if JKR had anything less than killing with
malice aforethought in mind when she wrote this line. It would be 
the typical understanding of the term by the average Englishman 
would have. 

No offense is meant by the use of Englishman to describe JKR, it
is the convention and I'm far from PC, I'm afraid;)

Simple killing would not. 

However, this is not my point, and the title should give you a 
clue. I postulate here that this was an act of voluntary 
euthanasia. It is perhaps something JKR contemplated on when her
mother was so ill :(, which was during the planning of the series.

zgirnius has knowledge of my views on Snape;), about whom I am
ambivalent, in that I really want him to turn out good but have
a nasty feeling he will turn out otherwise. I put up these few
thoughts to perhaps assist in development of the argument that
Dumbledore chose to die.

He really wouldn't have minded, you know;)

Goddlefrood