Sirius, Self-Absorbed? and Snape

[c_voth312]

No: HPFGUIDX 45939

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., elfundeb <elfundeb at c...> wrote:
> I'm not a Sirius fan (though my husband is), and I like Snape 
primarily because he is interesting and not because he is nice, but I 
think your description of both is about right (the good and the bad), 
except for Snape always having his heart in the right place.  To me, 
they are both bitter, mean-spirited (though Sirius is mostly mean-
spirited about Snape and Pettigrew, and Snape, IMO, is meanspirited 
as a reaction to his own lack of popularity -- i.e., "if people don't 
like me why should I act as though I like them"), spiteful, brave, 
and misunderstood.  And both of them are there to protect Harry.  
> 
> Debbie
> who prefers Lupin
> 

This touches on my theory, which is that the ultimate difference 
between Snape and Sirius is merely a matter of perception.  To Harry, 
Sirius is kind while Snape isn't, and so to him the former is a good 
person while the latter isn't.  For fans of the characters, having 
the two in conflict triggers the instinct that one must be "right" 
and therefore the other "wrong", so the lines are drawn according to 
whichever one the individual gravitates towards.

~Christi, who likes both Sirius *and* Snape and can't wait to see 
what happens when they're forced to work towards the same end...