Sirius, Self-Absorbed? and Snape

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 45941


> --- 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
> > 
Christi:
> 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.<<<

Me:
Oh how ardently listees defend "their" characters, endlessly 
denying or explaining away their flaws. Was there ever better 
proof that love is blind? Poor guys, so lungsuffering, so noble, so 
devoted, so misunderstood. But Snape is heartless, Lupin is, by 
his own admission, a coward, and Sirius doesn't  *think.*  I fear 
that  JKR is going to call them to account for it, and very painfully 
too.

Pippin
fondly stroking her FEATHERBOA