Why Snape appeals (mainly) to women

[melclaros <melclaros@yahoo.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 47928

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Porphyria <porphyria at m...> 
wrote:
> 
.
> 
> However, what is is we typically see Snape doing? He gets to teach 
11 year 
> olds Boil-Curing Potion *over and over and over.* He has to herd 
them from 
> class to class when there is some danger in the castle. He has to 
keep 
> them in line and break up fights. He has to babysit. He has to make 
sure 
> they get medical treatment when they injure themselves, and protect 
them 
> from their own recklessness. And, in what I think is one of the 
series' 
> moments of pure comic genius, Snape has to play hyper-conscientious 
> nursemaid to Lupin, someone he'd just as soon poison.


<snip>

> 
> So my argument states that Snape appeals to *some* women who feel 
> frustrated that society, their families, or life in general obliges 
them 
> into a caretaker role when they privately feel that they are better 
suited 
> for more intellectual work. Some of these women might reject 
caretaker 
> roles for themselves, and others might be *extremely dutiful* 
mothers, 
> teachers and nurses who simply feel the pressure to be 
compassionate and 
> tender-hearted all the time. It's a heavy burden for anyone not 
100% 
> sweetness and light in the first place. But what if women actually 
acted 
> like Snape! It's hardly an option for any of us who care about what 
our 
> loved ones think of us. (If only the world were as accepting as 
Dumbledore!
> ) So Snape is deliciously enjoyable because, as a literary 
character, he 
> can get away with all the nastiness he wants and we can enjoy it 
> vicariously without actually hurting anyone in the Real World.

me:
Oh. My. God.  That's me. It really really is. I've heard the "animus" 
theory before, spelled out in more Jungian terms and some reading on 
that topic might satisfy the ones who tend to think of the attraction 
in terms of sexual fantasy. This explanation, however is far closer 
to the quick for myself, (however sexy I find the Potions Master 
despite it) and to be honest for at least one or two women I know who 
are of my age and in my circumstances.  
HOWEVER...having said that and admitted to being miserable with some 
life choices (A HA! There again...) I do have to say that my own 
*personal* infatuation with Snape hit fully formed with his first 
appearance in the first book. The narrative description of him--not 
his appearance--but of his ability to hold his class in thrall, "He 
spoke in barely a whisper..." was like a glass of ice water being 
thrown over me. Follow that with that masterful "Potions Speech"  
and, well I'm afraid Gildroy will have to knock elsewhere. I am going 
to dig in my heels and say that he really IS a fascinating character 
whether he's my animus or not. Trying to figure out where he came 
from, where he's going and what the hell he's up to is not only fun 
and interesting, but frightening. Following him is like trying to 
make your way through a maze in the dark, you know there's an 
unexpected turn or a solid wall in front of you somewhere, you just 
don't know where or when. And the chase is so much fun, it's worth 
running into that dead end.