I haven't read any of the essays (yet), but I bet that Snape is NOT evil and that Dumbledore is not dead for good. We are still missing a few important puzzle pieces in the story, but this is what I think:
HP6 is about losing/letting go of the "father" Dumbledore. JKR is writing a series that reflects certain psychological stages in the development of kids. At that age, growing up means cutting the umbilical cord to his (replacement) father (figure). Dumbledore had to a) be shown as someone who can mistakes, or who may actually fail (his hand is a very good reminder that even Albus Dumbledore is not invincible), and b) he had to be removed from Harry's life. No more parental safety net.
Ok, Dumbledore had to go. But for good? I don't think so. Gandalf came back, why not Albus? We are still missing memories and puzzle pieces which only Dumbledore can provide. We need him to give us more answers. Which is why I am certain he will be back eventually. He is, after all, fightung under the sign of the Phoenix, a powerful symbol of rebirth. Also, Dumbledore just drank that enchanted water of death. Is it possible that Albus went to the cave to drink that water? To make his later "death" more convincing?
With Fawkes on his side, I feel that Albus has an ace up his sleeve. So, JKR has everything she needs to bring Albus back.
Large amounts of HP6 were stressing, how important non-verbal spells are. I'm convinced that Snape is able to verbalize one spell, and non-verbally cast another. However, we know that he took the unbreakable oath. What if he told Albus about the oath and Dumbeldore decided that this was the perfect opportunity to play dead? If "dead", Albus might have more freedom to study Tom Riddle's horcruxes. I am not convinced that there was no horcrux in the cave. Either Dumbledore salvaged it at an earlier opportunity, or he switched lockets shortly before his "death".
I'm thinking that one of the reasons why Dumbledore spent so much time with Harry was the necessity to prepare Harry for the death of his father-figure. To turn him into someone who may weather his loss and emerge stronger than before.
Snapes flight is interesting too. There is a desperation there, that's hard to explain. Why shouldn't Snape kill Harry, or allow him to be killed by the other death eaters (in which case Voldemort could not blame and punish him)? I think Harry came very close to ruining Albus and Snape's plan there.
Um, well, the purpose of this rambling post is to say that, I'm convinced that Snape is not working for Voldemort but for Dumbledore. Dumbledore failed Tom Riddle. One of the important lessons in HP6 is how spectacularly Albus failed to stop Voldemort when there was still time, thus causing deaths like James's and Lily's. Albus underestimated Voldemort, even though he'd seen a glimpse of Tom's true character. Would Albus have made the same mistake twice?
Personally, I don't think Dumbledore failed to see through Snape. I think that Dumbledore and Snape share the same burden. That they've played an elaborate charade for some time...
Seriously, this is the only interpretation that fits the pattern of the novels...
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We are still missing a few important puzzle pieces in the story, but this is what I think:
HP6 is about losing/letting go of the "father" Dumbledore. JKR is writing a series that reflects certain psychological stages in the development of kids. At that age, growing up means cutting the umbilical cord to his (replacement) father (figure). Dumbledore had to a) be shown as someone who can mistakes, or who may actually fail (his hand is a very good reminder that even Albus Dumbledore is not invincible), and b) he had to be removed from Harry's life. No more parental safety net.
Ok, Dumbledore had to go. But for good? I don't think so. Gandalf came back, why not Albus? We are still missing memories and puzzle pieces which only Dumbledore can provide. We need him to give us more answers. Which is why I am certain he will be back eventually. He is, after all, fightung under the sign of the Phoenix, a powerful symbol of rebirth.
Also, Dumbledore just drank that enchanted water of death. Is it possible that Albus went to the cave to drink that water? To make his later "death" more convincing?
With Fawkes on his side, I feel that Albus has an ace up his sleeve. So, JKR has everything she needs to bring Albus back.
Large amounts of HP6 were stressing, how important non-verbal spells are. I'm convinced that Snape is able to verbalize one spell, and non-verbally cast another.
However, we know that he took the unbreakable oath. What if he told Albus about the oath and Dumbeldore decided that this was the perfect opportunity to play dead? If "dead", Albus might have more freedom to study Tom Riddle's horcruxes.
I am not convinced that there was no horcrux in the cave. Either Dumbledore salvaged it at an earlier opportunity, or he switched lockets shortly before his "death".
I'm thinking that one of the reasons why Dumbledore spent so much time with Harry was the necessity to prepare Harry for the death of his father-figure. To turn him into someone who may weather his loss and emerge stronger than before.
Snapes flight is interesting too. There is a desperation there, that's hard to explain. Why shouldn't Snape kill Harry, or allow him to be killed by the other death eaters (in which case Voldemort could not blame and punish him)? I think Harry came very close to ruining Albus and Snape's plan there.
Um, well, the purpose of this rambling post is to say that, I'm convinced that Snape is not working for Voldemort but for Dumbledore. Dumbledore failed Tom Riddle. One of the important lessons in HP6 is how spectacularly Albus failed to stop Voldemort when there was still time, thus causing deaths like James's and Lily's. Albus underestimated Voldemort, even though he'd seen a glimpse of Tom's true character. Would Albus have made the same mistake twice?
Personally, I don't think Dumbledore failed to see through Snape. I think that Dumbledore and Snape share the same burden. That they've played an elaborate charade for some time...
Seriously, this is the only interpretation that fits the pattern of the novels...