[HPforGrownups] Re:Draco/ Snape parallels (was Draco's redemption - reprise)

[Mary Shearer]

No: HPFGUIDX 33275


--- Edblanning at aol.com wrote:

> What really intrigues me, though, and perhaps some
> of you other Friends of 
> Snape out there can help me out on this one, is just
> *why* do some of us have 
> sympathy for this horrible man, want to find excuses
> or reasons for his 
> behaviour, whilst most of us seem to feel nothing
> but antipathy for Draco, 
> who is after all only a child.
> 
> Is Snape striking some chord, does he have other
> literary parallels? Any 
> thoughts?

I think the attraction to Snape lies in his
complexity. Very early on in the series (the end of
the 1st book)Snape is disproven as a 2-dimensional
villain.  He saves Harry - why?  Dumbledore trusts him
implicitly-why? He has all kinds of personal issues
with Harry/MMWP-why, why, WHY? There's got to be a
rich backstory... (Mary shinnies up to the crow's nest
of the good ship LOLLIPOPS, and waves to
everyone)...what the heck is it???? Don't know about
you guys, but its killing me!

Draco, on the other hand, is just a child - but he
does nothing to pique my interest.  He's just plain
nasty with no layers.  If, just once, JKR had given us
even a hint of vulnerability in Draco, he would
probably gain Snape status.  When we finally get
*some* background- enter his parents, who are merely
adult Dracos...nothin'. They treat him coldly, but he
doesn't seem affected by it - by appearances, his
relationship with his parents is on a good footing,
though not the warm and nurturing one we would want
with our own children. We may *try* to read behind the
lines, but, literally, JKR gives us nothing other than
the flat face of petty evil. Even Voldemort has more
for us to sympathize with (rejected by his father's
family, lost his mother young, etc.) Draco
is...well...just a bad boy with no redeeming
qualities. Feel free to come after me - I'll be down
in the cabin swilling rum with Tabouli.               
-Mary

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


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