For starters, I have to say you have more faith in JKR than me. My first doubts with the issue of redemption in Potterverse was the invention of the "Life Dept" concept. It appears Peter too will do something heroic and sacrifice himself to save/help Harry, will he be redeemed? We'll never know. Why not? Because we won't know if his good deeds will be a result of deep regret, or because of some invisible force of ancient magical law: "You owe Harry, and you have to repay."
This is very much like the "Free Will" and "Choices" concepts JKR loves to bring up all the time, which she botched by declaring Voldemort a born sociopath, and sociopaths by definition are not responsible for their actions because they are incapable of feeling empathy.
As for Snape... Now we know for a fact that he's an accomplice to James and Lily Potter's murders. This may very well be the reason for the decision to change sides, but the fact remains that he is partly responsible for Harry's parents deaths, one thing you neglected to touch upon.
So, In a personal sense, while redemption starts in one's self, it doesn't end there. You can't be redeemed without dealing with the fact that you caused harm to others. One good deed doesn't erase a bad one. Snape can't say "I did help kill Voldemort, I'm redeemed", if it is indeed redemption he is seeking, which I doubt. Like you said, Snape is very proud, and may think he is not worthy of redemption. In all likelyhood, he changed sides, because he could no longer do what he was doing, and joined Dumbledore, because he didn't know what else to do.
no subject
This is very much like the "Free Will" and "Choices" concepts JKR loves to bring up all the time, which she botched by declaring Voldemort a born sociopath, and sociopaths by definition are not responsible for their actions because they are incapable of feeling empathy.
As for Snape... Now we know for a fact that he's an accomplice to James and Lily Potter's murders. This may very well be the reason for the decision to change sides, but the fact remains that he is partly responsible for Harry's parents deaths, one thing you neglected to touch upon.
So, In a personal sense, while redemption starts in one's self, it doesn't end there. You can't be redeemed without dealing with the fact that you caused harm to others. One good deed doesn't erase a bad one. Snape can't say "I did help kill Voldemort, I'm redeemed", if it is indeed redemption he is seeking, which I doubt. Like you said, Snape is very proud, and may think he is not worthy of redemption. In all likelyhood, he changed sides, because he could no longer do what he was doing, and joined Dumbledore, because he didn't know what else to do.