Meta: How Dumbledore’s death speaks to Snape’s moral evolution
How Dumbledore’s death speaks to Snape’s moral evolution
Dumbledore serves as Snape’s moral lifeline, providing Snape with the opportunity, direction, and guidance to do better in the worst moments of his life. Dumbledore’s grace, borne of his own experiences having done harm in his youth, fosters a fascinating relationship between the two men, one that becomes a crucial source of support and understanding for Snape as he returns to his role as double agent. In accepting the charge to personally destroy this relationship, in forgoing his guide and the support he provided, Snape demonstrates faith in his own moral judgment.
We get to see a couple of examples of how Snape draws strength and moral courage from his relationship with Dumbledore on the night Voldemort returns. As Crouch is apprehended, Snape seems to look into the Foe-Glass for reassurance that he is aligned with Dumbledore. When Dumbledore is undermined by the Minister, Snape voluntarily reveals his Dark Mark, baring his shame and risking his reputation to lend his support in a way that only he can. Later, when Dumbledore asks him “if [he] is ready, if [he] is prepared” to return to his post, he sets aside his fear and fulfills Dumbledore’s request immediately. We see why Snape draws such courage from Dumbledore by his response. Dumbledore watches him leave with apprehension and gives him a minute or two of silence; clearly, he understands exactly what he has asked of Snape and is deeply concerned for him. Snape craves understanding and care for his true self and is bolstered by Dumbledore's faith in him, faith he cannot yet muster for himself.
We are not privy to Snape’s communications with Dumbledore as he sinks deeper into his double agent role, but Voldemort’s return seems to usher in a highly productive period in their relationship. Dumbledore is no longer simply reacting to Voldemort, and Snape, though busy and testy, seems to have a strong sense of purpose and a certain amount of pride in his work. This change is likely due to a greater understanding between the two. In The Lost Prophecy, Dumbledore reiterates his unwavering support and even recognizes Snape’s trauma as “an old wound [that] run[s] too deep for healing” (a far cry from his dismissal of it only two years prior).
The situation changes drastically in the summer before Harry's sixth year. With a child’s soul on the line and facing an assured end, Dumbledore asks Snape to kill him. This is a monumental moment for Snape. In fulfilling Dumbledore's request, Snape would be destroying his lifeline; he would have to fight the current and swim on his own, at best prolonging a certain death, or allow his true self to be swept away completely.
Dumbledore asks him if he can manage this, and Snape takes several moments of silence. Can he trust that if his soul is split, he can honestly face the depth of his remorse without deflecting blame or destroying himself? Can he trust himself to stay the course while deep undercover without a guide? He thinks long and hard, and decides that his own moral compass is strong enough. This is clearly demonstrating moral development; the Snape who came to Dumbledore on the hilltop, the Snape who wanted to die after Lily’s death, and even the Snape who returned to Voldemort’s side a year ago still needed Dumbledore.
That doesn’t mean he doesn’t have doubts; his hand twitches in Narcissa’s when asked to commit to killing Dumbledore and, as the year goes on, Snape’s fears overwhelm him. In a moment of deep emotional vulnerability in the Forbidden Forest, Snape practically begs Dumbledore for reassurance, for evidence of his faith in him. He gets it when Dumbledore finally reveals some of the details of his endgame to Snape: Snape must buy Harry time and keep an eye on Voldemort until the proper time, when he must tell Harry to sacrifice himself. Snape is horrified; their partnership, their work, his second chance at life, has been built upon a lie. He followed the path Dumbledore had laid for him because he thought that by keeping Lily Potter’s son safe, he might atone for contributing to Lily’s death. With Harry’s impending death dies Snape’s personal motivations for working on behalf of the Order.
However, Dumbledore’s faith in Snape’s true self pays off; although horrified and betrayed, Snape does not walk away but instead commits to his path. He kills Dumbledore and resigns himself to living in the darkness that had always tempted him, without understanding or recognition of his true self, plagued by an unimaginable loneliness and the horrors of Voldemort's leadership. The fact that Snape does not lose his way and continues to protect as many possible in this hostile environment speaks to true, hard-earned moral resolve.
