chapter discussions, SS/PS, chapter 5, Diagon Alley

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 187968

 
> Alla:
> 
> And as I repeated several times my argument is that author argues throughout the 7 book especially that Snape is not the typical Slytherin. Exactly proves my point IMO, Snape is indeed the last Slytherin mentioned in the story. Slytherin who is praised by Harry for his courage, a quality which determines Gryffindors, not brains or ambition. <snip> I think it is done very deliberately that even at the end, even in the epilogue when Harry mind you in his thirties the ONLY thing he praises Snape for is his courage.

Pippin:
Harry also mentions  Headmaster of Hogwarts, a job that demanded both brains and ambition. Snape's last words in canon are, "I have a plan." As for being a textbook author, canon makes them a joke. Arsenius Jigger? Adalbert Waffling? You think Snape didn't think he could do better than that?

I think the books show that if you have to model yourself on a mythical ideal,  courage and chivalry are more appealing than cunning and ambition. But they also show that *any* myth of superiority will lead us to slight the virtues of others, even the virtues we admire. Harry knows that Albus needs myths to organize a world that would otherwise seem too chaotic and frightening to be understood. But I think Harry hopes that Albus will grow out of it.

Pippin