[HPforGrownups] Snape - right side for wrong reasons? (was: Snape is like...

[tillrules at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 28933

In a message dated 11/7/2001 11:31:09 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
meboriqua at aol.com writes:

<< Okay, I agree with you that Snape is not likeable, but I don't see him 
 as sad or petty (well, sometimes petty).  Snape, according to 
 Dumbledore, turned away from Voldemort and the DEs at "great personal 
 risk".  That doesn't sound like someone who is "simply on the right 
 side of the battle for now" to me.  He also left Voldemort's side 
 during Voldemort's height of power; what better position could he be 
 seeking than one of Voldemort's inner circle?  Snape must have had 
 some other reasons for leaving the DEs than just "fears of Voldemort" 
 (I just wish I knew what those reasons are).  I'd have to say that 
 Snape is definitely brave, not just arguably so.  Would you want 
 someone like Voldemort to question your loyalties or choices?  I sure 
 wouldn't>>>>

I think my view is misstated.  I think that the reason Snape leaves is that 
once within the inner circle, he sees just how vile Voldemort is and that he 
then leaves.  I don't see him as an opportunist (ala Peter)  who only wants 
to be with the winners.  As I said, I think he supports Voldemort until he 
realizes that what Voldemort is trying to do is worse than whatever result 
can happen with Dumbledore, et al, running things.  Whatever he saw to make 
him make the change was enough to make him change sides even in the face of 
his hatred for many of those on Dumbledores side (i.e... the Marauders).  My 
point was that we really don't know if he's actually good or simply afraid of 
what happens when Voldemort wins.  

Many of the pro-Snape folks (like the pro-Draco folks) want to see Snape as 
having been redeemed and as a good guy.  I just see him as a petty unlikeable 
person who happens to be on the same side as Harry.

 
>>>> There are times I feel for Snape, but not in such a way that I think 
 he is sad.  When the trio hexed him in the Shreiking Shack, I now feel 
 bad when reading that scene because Snape truly believed he was 
 helping to stop a dangerous criminal from committing more crimes.  I 
 agree with Amy Z and Cindy that Snape often is overshadowed by others' 
 achievements.  Snape saved Harry's life and was bitten by Fluffy, he 
 was hexed by the trio later and had his head smacked on the ceiling by 
 Sirius, and was later embarrassed by Moody/Crouch when Snape was just 
 investigating (justifiably) who might have broken into his office and 
 stolen ingredients from him.  Meanwhile, Harry was, just as Snape 
 suspected, a few feet away the entire time.  Snape gets the raw end of 
 the deal - and still keeps his mouth shut about it.  There's nothing 
 petty about that. >>


Again this is a difference in interpretation.  I see Snape's actions as 
wanting deperately to catch Harry as a way to get back at his memroies of 
Harry's father.  He complains loud and hard about each time Harry escapes 
him.   And this is even more true when he confronts Lupin & Sirius.  He 
beleives they are criminals, even in the face of evidence that they are not 
because he WANTS to believe that.  He wants the golden boys to fall.  It 
justifies his dislike of them and makes him "right all along about them."

David