(no subject)
Having finally had the chance to drive to and from work, which seems to be when ideas germinate best, here are what pass for my first significant, coherent thoughts concerning HBP.
SPOILERS AHOY
First came the initial, horrifying shock. Perhaps some readers took the signals that Dumbledore would die in this novel and put them together with Draco's mission and Snape's vow and came up with the conclusion that Snape would kill Dumbledore. I was not one of them. For me, the first reaction was OMG, Snape!
Then came the dawning understanding, tentative in those first moments of shock, but gradually more sure: Dumbledore wasn't pleading for his life. He was pleading with Snape to be strong enough to do what was necessary. Snape's action, horrific though it was, was an act of loyalty, not betrayal.
Next was the gathering together, by a great many fans on LJ, to clarify and give comfort, to point out the many instances of evidence throughout the novel that support claims of Snape's loyalty. And these were many, and they were eloquent, and they continue to be the basis for the beginnings of coming to terms with what happens in HBP.
Still, there is lingering shock, and more than that, I'd say lingering agony for many readers, including me, in the early days post-HBP. It's this that I wish to write about.
Ironically, HBP gives Snape fans what we have been waiting six books to get, namely, conclusive evidence of Snape's loyalty. Up until now we've not seen a definitive act of loyalty from Snape. Now we have. But what a price we pay for this certainty. The nature of Snape's act is not just horrifying in itself; that would be easier to come to terms with. But its impact in terms of the plot is such that the very act that proves his loyalty to the reader convinces every character in the novel of his betrayal. With Dumbledore dead and with Snape having killed him, there is no character that we know of who knows the truth. This is an agonizing position to be in as a reader.
What's worse, excruciating as it will be to read Book 7 with Snape in this horrible position - and I won't even go into the near impossibility of a happy outcome for Snape - we can't even do that for two years or perhaps more. That's a long time to leave readers in a state of agony.
I am prepared to accept that the two years will not be an unmitigated stretch of misery and that there will be lots of lovely fics that explore Snape's dilemma and invent scenarios for the eventual revelation to Order members, and most particularly to Harry, of Snape's true role. Already there have been some. Stories by srichard and amberdiceless come readily to mind. This is a good thing.
I imagine I might eventually be persuaded that it wasn't the cruellest act in the world to leave us in this state of agony with only the promise of more to come. But for the moment there is still shock, there is still agony, and I am still raw.
SPOILERS AHOY
First came the initial, horrifying shock. Perhaps some readers took the signals that Dumbledore would die in this novel and put them together with Draco's mission and Snape's vow and came up with the conclusion that Snape would kill Dumbledore. I was not one of them. For me, the first reaction was OMG, Snape!
Then came the dawning understanding, tentative in those first moments of shock, but gradually more sure: Dumbledore wasn't pleading for his life. He was pleading with Snape to be strong enough to do what was necessary. Snape's action, horrific though it was, was an act of loyalty, not betrayal.
Next was the gathering together, by a great many fans on LJ, to clarify and give comfort, to point out the many instances of evidence throughout the novel that support claims of Snape's loyalty. And these were many, and they were eloquent, and they continue to be the basis for the beginnings of coming to terms with what happens in HBP.
Still, there is lingering shock, and more than that, I'd say lingering agony for many readers, including me, in the early days post-HBP. It's this that I wish to write about.
Ironically, HBP gives Snape fans what we have been waiting six books to get, namely, conclusive evidence of Snape's loyalty. Up until now we've not seen a definitive act of loyalty from Snape. Now we have. But what a price we pay for this certainty. The nature of Snape's act is not just horrifying in itself; that would be easier to come to terms with. But its impact in terms of the plot is such that the very act that proves his loyalty to the reader convinces every character in the novel of his betrayal. With Dumbledore dead and with Snape having killed him, there is no character that we know of who knows the truth. This is an agonizing position to be in as a reader.
What's worse, excruciating as it will be to read Book 7 with Snape in this horrible position - and I won't even go into the near impossibility of a happy outcome for Snape - we can't even do that for two years or perhaps more. That's a long time to leave readers in a state of agony.
I am prepared to accept that the two years will not be an unmitigated stretch of misery and that there will be lots of lovely fics that explore Snape's dilemma and invent scenarios for the eventual revelation to Order members, and most particularly to Harry, of Snape's true role. Already there have been some. Stories by srichard and amberdiceless come readily to mind. This is a good thing.
I imagine I might eventually be persuaded that it wasn't the cruellest act in the world to leave us in this state of agony with only the promise of more to come. But for the moment there is still shock, there is still agony, and I am still raw.