[HPforGrownups] Why Snape appeals (mainly) to women

[Ezzie Mora]

No: HPFGUIDX 47942

--- Porphyria <porphyria at mindspring.com> wrote:

> Snape appeals to some women because he is exactly  
> what a woman cannot be if she is to be recognized as

> "feminine" in our society.

I'm not sure I can completely follow this theory.  
There are other characters in the books that would
arguably have the same appeal: Arthur Weasley who is
loyal, noble, family oriented and in a powerful
position at the Ministry.  Albus Dumbledore who has
acheived significantly in several areas including
Potions, Alchemy, DADA, etc..  Whatever it is, it's
beyond his career acheivments or his position at
Hogwarts.

I think the appeal to most women is Snape's unique
range of character (intelligent, dark, brooding,
ambitious, mysterious, tortured) that is appealing. 
If you're a Snape fan, ask yourself when the
inclinations (obsession?) began.

Was it after Book 1 when he tried to save Harry's life
and constantly harassed him?  

Was it after Book 2 when he taunted Harry endlessly?  

Was it after Book 3 when you found out about the trick
played on him by Sirius and when he tried to save the
threesome?  

Or was it after Book 4 when we found out he was a spy
and really a good guy and then began pondering as to
what horrible things happened to him in his life?

I doubt few of us considered him much until Book 3 - I
know I didn't.  Before that he was simply an overgrown
grouchy adult.  After Book 4 I began to compile all
these things together, but his accomplishments meant
nothing without the struggle it obviously took for him
to get there.

> 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. 

I certainly can't dispute that some women might feel
this way.  But we can't discount for the fact that a
lot of women are attracted to him because he's
obviously tortured and he is for all practical
purposes a 'bad boy'.  He's run with the devil himself
(Voldemort) and seemingly pulled back to be a good
guy. He's also intelligent, witty, loyal and
mysterious.  There is a part of many women that want
the 'bad boy' with just a hint of danger and that
seems to be what Snape has.  Add on top of that all
the implied intellectual aspects of his personality,
and you can almost forget the fact that he has a taste
for boring black clothing, not washing his hair or
taking care of his teeth.

It's sort of like women in our modern day who like
biker guys who are bankers by day.  Is this not what
the appeal of Sirius Black is?  Heck, he even rode a
motorcycle!

I think the Snape fascination has many levels though
and your comments are all valid.  His character is
described, thus far, vaguely enough that you can make
what you want of him.  But I would note that most
people who like Snape (that I've come across) are
older.  We younger Snape fans often have a darker side
to our personalities and perhaps there is a common
feeling of angst and torture there.  A lot of Snape
fiction seems to focus in on this - if we can use
fanfiction as a means to judge the fandom's feelings
towards him. =)

-ezzie


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