Snape: Was fatal flaw

Amanda Lewanski editor at texas.net
Tue Oct 10 14:48:19 UTC 2000


No: HPFGUIDX 3120

Blaise wrote:

> I would cast Snape as a tragic hero with a fatal flaw, myself.
> Hubris is definitely something he suffers from, and it seems to me
> that he's riding for a fall.

Actually, in the tradition of epics, we have been dumped into this grand
story in medias res, in the middle, and are learning about it through
Harry's eyes as it goes on. I think Snape has already taken a
fall--something besides basic personality made him the way he is. And I
think probably he will again.

> I see
> him as very like Creon from the Antigone, not in terms of his
> situation but in terms of his character and how he deals with
> events.

I think Snape is clearer-eyed that we are allowed to see. I see a bit of the
attitude of Edmund from one of the Chronicles of Narnia books (Prince
Caspian, I think; the second one). Where he's been woken by his sister Lucy
and told something unbelievable and his reaction is stated along the lines
of "while he fully intended to back Lucy up, he was annoyed at losing his
night's sleep and intended to do everything as sulkily as possible." I think
Snape has every intent of supporting the good, for whatever reason. But he
does it in the snarliest manner possible, and carries way too much emotional
baggage around.

--Amanda







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