Why readers love Snape

[gypaetus16]

No: HPFGUIDX 33497

garaeta wrote on 14th of January:

 'Saving' this man?  I don't think he
>> needs to be saved.  If a woman approached him with that attitude, I beli=
eve
> 
>> that she would fail to get even a simple response.  He doesn't need to b=
e
>> saved.



Of course it depends on the approach! When you are a naive  
inexperienced young girl there cannot be success. When you have some  
experiences with difficult characters, when you do not unsult his 
intellect and when you are careful and sensitive enough to check how 
far you can go in your "Florence-Nightingale-for-the-soul-attitude", 
then there is a  possibility to reach his inside step by step.
What I believe has to be changed (and changing or making a difference 
is saving too) is his attitude against weak and  helpless figures such 
as Neville. Snape knows about Neville´s history,  such as Remus does, 
but Lupin wants to help him. It is not necessary to frighten a helpless 
little boy, who has to visit his insane parents during the holidays, 
who do not recognize their son. It is not  necessary to enlarge the 
fear of this little shivering boy, in particular not necessary for a 
powerful, brilliant and highly intelligent wizard such as Snape, who 
has such an important role to play.
When he is after Harry, Ok, I think Harry can take it (and  sometimes 
deserves some punishment) also Hermione and Ron (not to  speak  of my 
beloved Weasley twins). But they are talented wizards and witches  with 
a lot of self confidence, knowledge and humor, not so Neville.
A horrible and supressing attitude against weak and helpless people, in 
particular against children is a sign of despotism and tyranny and not  
of tolerance and freedom. Such an attitude fits better to a Voldemort 
empire, which Snape is fighting against.

Gabriele