[HPforGrownups] Snape

[Laura Huntley]

No: HPFGUIDX 34698

    Okay.  There has been allot of discussion about Snape since I've been a member of this list (which has been, oh, a good two days now), and I would like to add my own two cents about just why I really don't like the man.

    But first a quick note:  Devin's post earlier made me smile.  I understand that so much.  I love to debate, but at the same time I feel so incredibly..ahh, I can't think of a word to describe it..but it's like my heart might burst.  Anyway, back to the *point*.

    First of all, I don't really "get" the mindset of those with a sexual attraction to Snape.  Of course, I have never read Snape-oriented fanfiction, which I assume portrays him in a more sex-god light than canon.  While I never bought that he was THE BAD GUY in SS, I still had a vague dislike for him.  Somehow I knew he couldn't be the pervading evil in the plotline, but he still managed to rub my fur the wrong way.  He was pretty much intensely unfair, which really got to me.  I have often imagined myself, in Harry's shoes, jumping up and strangling the man as he made some rude, petty remark - either that or threatening to get him fired by complaining to the school board (while this is probably not possible in JKR's world, it seems to me that any teacher in a real-life school who acted the way Snape did towards the students would be out of a job so fast it would make their head spin) I've met nasty teachers before, but most at least *try* to foster the desire to learn in their students and provide their pupils with a good adult role model.  Anyway, I didn't like him, but I certainly didn't wish a horrible death upon him - he was just one of those unpleasant people that everyone has to put up with.

    My attitude towards him, however, changed dramatically in GoF.  WHAT ABOUT WHAT HE SAID TO HERMIONE?!...when her teeth were enlarged...he said something to the effect of, "I see no difference."

MY GOD.

    No one else finds this particularly evil, as far as I can tell.  Everyone cites his former DE days, his penchant for picking on Neville (which in and of itself is inexcusable) -- but those words he said in GoF -- that was just unforgivable in my mind. ^_~  I don't know, maybe I just have a soft spot for Hermione, but I will never forgive Snape for that.  There was no reason for it, excepting pure cruelty, pettiness, and the like.  *shakes head* He's not a nice man.  He's not evil, but he's not a good person.  

    I don't care about any dark, troubled childhood or inner goodness that he may show in the world of fandom *or* future canon.  People are who they are because of *what they choose*.  Snape *chooses* to be cruel, petty, rude, and generally mean - and for that, in my mind, there is no excuse. It is his *choice* to use his power as a teacher over his students in order to verbally assault them constantly without risking any revenge on their part - this is cowardice in the extreme.  Under NO circumstances is it (IMO) acceptable to attack those who have no way to defend themselves.  Brave?  I can't help but scoff at this.  Bravery isn't just how you behave in extreme situations or your ability to keep your nerve under duress.  More importantly, it's how you live your day to day life.  No one who can take pleasure in beating down someone defenseless like Neville or any of the students, for that matter, will *ever* be considered brave - at least by me.  It's just sick - akin to pulling the wings off flys or shooting mockingbirds.  As a teacher, Snape has an extreme degree of power over the students - which he abuses in a fairly sickening way.  The noble, brave, etc. etc. way to use this power would be as Minerva does - she expects allot of respect from the students, but she also does her best to respect *them* and help them learn and grow as people.  It's like Sirius said of Mr. Crouch.  If you want to see what a person's really like, take a look at how they treat their inferiors, NOT their equals.  

    I don't really hate Snape, it just upsets me when people try *so* hard to excuse him into being a good person, when, in reality, who says he even *wants* to be a nice person, underneath?  Also, this entire post has been quite rant-y.  I apologize.
   
laura


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]