Snape -- Why so many fans?

[Milz]

No: HPFGUIDX 25595

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., justanopinion2001 at h... wrote:
> My biggest surprise as a newbie has been all the adoration for 
> Snape.  I've read a LOT of posts about him on this board and 
> SNAPEFANS, and I haven't gotten a good feeling about why people 
would 
> be nuts about him the way others are about Lupin or Black.
> 
> My recollections of Snape are pretty negative:  he embarrassed 
Harry 
> on the first day of Potions.  He threatened to use truth serum on 
> Harry.  He tied up Lupin and tried to give Black to the Dementors.  
> He tried to expose Lupin as a werewolf by covering the topic in 
> Lupin's class, and when that didn't work, he blabbed it on 
purpose.  
> He ridicules Neville.  He mistreats Hermione.  He has called Harry 
a 
> liar at least once (Goblet of Fire).  
> 
> Yes, he saved Harry in PS/SS, and yes, it looks like he's on 
> Dumbledore's team.  But what are the Snape Fans seeing that I am 
> missing?  Would someone care to explain this?
> 

I've had the "pleasure" of being taught or precepted by several 
Snapes in my academic career, so Snape isn't my most fav of the 
characters. Simply put, Snape is an ass. He is verbally abusive to 
his students, creating a hostile learning environment. From my 
personal experience with Snapish teachers, studying is done largely 
out of fear of being yelled at or embarassed, rather than for the 
sake of the subject. Frankly, I would love to see Neville's gran take 
him down a peg or two (or four). No, scratch that idea. I would love 
to see a successful Neville come back to Hogwarts and take Snape down 
a peg or two (or four).


But as much as he is an ass, he's also a very complex character. He's 
a bad good-guy and his past affects his judgement and actions. I 
think that's what attracts his fans. Plus he has that "mis-
understood" hero thing going for him too.

Milz