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Dumbledore’s Most Puzzling Lie
I keep having issues with Dumbledore’s conversation with Harry at the end of Sorcerer’s Stone. Dumbledore promises, “I shall answer your questions unless I have a very good reason not to, in which case I beg you'll forgive me. I shall not, of course, lie.” (SS298)
He then proceeds to not only omit quite a few relevant details, but does tell an outright lie: “[Y]our father did something Snape could never forgive. [. . .] He saved his life. [. . .] Professor Snape couldn't bear being in your father's debt. . . . I do believe he worked so hard to protect you this year because he felt that would make him and your father even. Then he could go back to hating your father's memory in peace. . . .” (SS300)
While Snape’s true motivation obviously was not Dumbledore’s secret to tell, this whopper seems like a singularly bad idea. It abated Harry’s curiosity for two years, but the truth eventually surfaced and it was not pleasant for anybody.
This was also rather inconsistent with Dumbledore’s modus operandi, which was to tell half-truths or simply withhold information. Especially considering Dumbledore just set a precedent for withholding information, regarding Voldemort’s motivation for attacking Harry, he could have just said, “No comment. Next question.”
The only theory I have come across is Theowyn’s, in their essay that shares a title with this book (it really is a good title!). Theowyn claims that Dumbledore told this lie to encourage the animosity between Snape and Harry, as their antagonism gave Dumbledore more control over both of them. I don’t buy that, because Theowyn’s reading of Dumbledore is incredibly sinister; in fact, it’s probably the harshest analysis of Dumbledore that I’ve read.
However, I’m at a loss to offer an alternative theory. I leave this to you, dear reader, and beg you to let me know of anything you come up with.
