[HPforGrownups]Bad Behavior, Fairness, Snape and the Dursleys

[Peg Kerr]

No: HPFGUIDX 1467



Joywitch wrote:

> Why are we (HP fanatics, that is) willing to accept the improbably
> bad behavior of the Dursleys, but not of Snape?

> <snip>

> The reason why, IMHO, the Dursleys get
> away with this bad behavior is because the HP books are a work of
> fiction, and JKR is not trying to accurately portray reality.  I
> think that the Dursleys are a caricature and therefore an
> exaggeration of a certain type of person. <snip>
>
> But what is so interesting to me is that while we put up with the
> Dursleys, we can not seem to accept the improbably bad teacher -
> Snape.  Of course it is not likely that a teacher, just about
> anywhere these days, could get away with treating students as bad as
> Snape does.  And also, of course, Snapes true nature is of great
> importance to the storyline, so the endless speculation is natural.
> But why should Snape be more realistic than the Dursleys?

This is very intriguing, and I think you're really on to something.

One distinction writers use is the distinction between flat characters and
rounded characters, a metaphoric expression of a useful idea.  The Dursleys
are flat; Snape is rounded.  In fact, Snape has depth that we can't see, and
we won't until future books.  And because the Dursleys are flat, we have the
feeling that we know them, just as we know the spear-carriers in
Shakespeare's plays, and so we know what we expect of them.  Snape is more
like Richard III.  Do we admire him, pity him, loathe him?  All of the
above--and the combination makes him riveting to watch.

Peg