Interesting essay. In part of it, you wrote: "During the final confrontation between the two in Half Blood Prince, Snape is right to keep Harry from using any unforgivable curses. Dumbledore has said that Harry's great weapon against Voldemort is the power of a soul that is pure and whole. Harry must not damage his soul by attempting to dominate another's, or by torture, or by murder. No matter how righteous his anger or desperate his need, he must not try to use the enemy's weapons against him."
But, if I remember correctly, Harry already used a Pain curse against LeStrange in OOTP. It just wasn't very effective. I think Bellatrix even offers to teach him how: "you have to mean it," she says. Then again maybe I'm remembering wrong.
harry and unforgivable curses
confrontation between the two in Half Blood Prince, Snape is right to keep Harry from using any unforgivable curses. Dumbledore has said that Harry's great weapon against Voldemort is the power of a soul that is pure and whole. Harry must not damage his soul by attempting to dominate another's, or by torture, or by murder. No matter how righteous his anger or desperate his need, he must not try to use the enemy's weapons against him."
But, if I remember correctly, Harry already used a Pain curse against LeStrange in OOTP. It just wasn't very effective. I think Bellatrix even offers to teach him how: "you have to mean it," she says. Then again maybe I'm remembering wrong.