I've been looking forward to reading this since you mentioned it on Snapedom. It really is a wonderful read. The sole piece of concrittyness I might offer is that it is a lot to take in all at once. Would dividing it into part 1 and part 2 be possible?
As someone who wasn't raised in any particular faith, but was then exposed to a lot of Catholicism via my uni studies (resulting in a very muddled person - religion-wise) I find it difficult to assess whether your essay is 'too Catholic'. All I can say is that I agree with what you say.
I find much of what Rowling does in the final book to be morally offensive. I hate the idea that she damns children as 'bad' from such a young age. The way she sneakily tries to manipulate her readers' perceptions of a neglected and affection starved boy by using words like 'greedy' is - as you say - 'jarring'. It lacks in empathy and compassion and - bluntly - I hate the idea that children would read it.
Like you, I just don't find DH morally coherent. It lacks mercy, it lacks love. Snape pays his penance over and over again - actually offers his own suffering up to try and atone for what he has done. Somehow, though, it feels like he never gets the forgiveness he deserves. The moment you mention with Dumbledore bothers me to the extreme:
"That boy's soul is not yet so damaged," said Dumbledore. "I would not have it ripped apart on my account.
"And my soul, Dumbledore? Mine?" (DH, page 683)
It's like Dumbledore (and Rowling) are suggesting that Snape's soul is past redemption - and I simply find this idea utterly awful and unacceptable. Who the hell is Dumbledore to imply this?
So as regards the morality - I totally agree with you. DH simply seems to wander between morally incoherent and morally offensive. I don't know how Catholic a reading that is - all I know is that it frequently turns my stomach.
no subject
As someone who wasn't raised in any particular faith, but was then exposed to a lot of Catholicism via my uni studies (resulting in a very muddled person - religion-wise) I find it difficult to assess whether your essay is 'too Catholic'. All I can say is that I agree with what you say.
I find much of what Rowling does in the final book to be morally offensive. I hate the idea that she damns children as 'bad' from such a young age. The way she sneakily tries to manipulate her readers' perceptions of a neglected and affection starved boy by using words like 'greedy' is - as you say - 'jarring'. It lacks in empathy and compassion and - bluntly - I hate the idea that children would read it.
Like you, I just don't find DH morally coherent. It lacks mercy, it lacks love. Snape pays his penance over and over again - actually offers his own suffering up to try and atone for what he has done. Somehow, though, it feels like he never gets the forgiveness he deserves. The moment you mention with Dumbledore bothers me to the extreme:
"That boy's soul is not yet so damaged," said Dumbledore. "I would not have it ripped apart
on my account.
"And my soul, Dumbledore? Mine?" (DH, page 683)
It's like Dumbledore (and Rowling) are suggesting that Snape's soul is past redemption - and I simply find this idea utterly awful and unacceptable. Who the hell is Dumbledore to imply this?
So as regards the morality - I totally agree with you. DH simply seems to wander between morally incoherent and morally offensive. I don't know how Catholic a reading that is - all I know is that it frequently turns my stomach.
I've friended you - if that's OK?