Apologia pro persona sua dilecta (was: Re: Snape's "mind set?")

[eloiseherisson at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 44178

In a message dated 17/09/2002 22:45:36 GMT Standard Time, 
i_am_erasmas at yahoo.ca writes:

> 
> I love the depth of Snape's character, but I think he is a 
> reprehensible person. Probably very brave, definitely cunning, likely 
> admirable and deserving respect for the sacrifices he has made and 
> will continue to make, but how do people actually like him?

Eloise:
As has been pointed out more than once, people do not have to be perfect, or 
even 'good' to be liked. Which is fortunate for most of us. ;-)

There are aspects of Snape's character which *are* reprehensible. I think 
most Snapefans would acknowledge this. But the admirable characteristics  to 
which you allude outweigh these in our minds, I suppose.

I'm not sure that 'like' is exactly the right word. I think many of us are 
more 'attracted' to him, which isn't the same thing. We can be attracted to 
people we don't always like!  And of course, we relate to his character as 
fellow adults, rather than as children. Apart fom Sirius and Lupin, against 
whom he has personal grudges, do we see Snape acting in a *reprehensible* way 
towards any other adults?

So what is attractive, I hear you ask?
Well, sure, we have to get over the physical shortcomings, which aren't 
*that* great  (well, nothing a bottle of shampoo wouldn't sort out).
But once we're past that hurdle, we have someone with a mysterious past, 
hints of heroism, evidence that he is a powerful (or at the least very 
competent) wizard, the gift of eloquence and a ready wit.
His characterisation also plays on some powerful imagery: his hook-nosed, 
black- attired appearance recalls Gothic archetypes; his bat-like attributes 
are vampiric (need I elaborate?)

So what I am saying is that whatever his shortcomings, JKR has created a 
character with some very attractive characteristics.

Erasmas:
> 
> I know there's a huge following of Snape fic writers that love to 
> invent ways for Snape to love and be loved. I think they're 99% 
> delusional, and that the majority of them are unduly influenced by 
> their attraction to Alan Rickman. I can sort of understand this but 
> those are fics and this is supposed to be a discussion of theories 
> about the books, is it not?

I don't read or write fanfics, but your objections seem to apply to the rest 
of us Snapefans.
Yes, I daresay there is some delusion going on. But then, we often delude 
ourselves about those we have feelings for in RL too. ;-)

Alan Rickman is a complicating factor ;-) But I don't think he is decisive.
Although I really wish they hadn't decided to give Celluloid!Snape such 
bouncy, clean hair. I think things might have been a little clearer with the 
grease left in!

My fascination for the character started before the film. I hated him through 
books one and two, was saying to my kids, 'Snape's OK', by book three and was 
completely hooked by him by the end of book four.

Erasmas:
> 
> I can understand that there could be very good reasons for Snape to 
> put on an act to make the children fear him, or dislike him, or think 
> he's unfair, but he goes much further than that. So, for those of you 
> that believe Snape is acting purposefully, I invite you to come up 
> with a plausible reason for Snape to act the way he does in these 
> scenes:
> 
> 1. PoA - Snape's Grudge
> 
> The one on one interview with Harry -- deliberately taunting Harry 
> about James. Whether he has a good reason to hate James or not, what 
> purpose could this possibly serve. Bear in mind that he is talking to 
> a 13 year old orphan boy about his dead parents. 

Eloise:
I don't think this *does* serve a purpose, except a personal one. It is, IMO, 
purely to do with unresolved issues to do with his own personality and past.

Erasmas:
> 
> 2. GoF - Hermione's Teeth
> 
> Mocking a young girl about a physical attribute that she's sensitive 
> about. This isn't severety, or favouritism, it is cruelty, with no 
> purpose but the joy of seeing a child hurt.


Eloise:
I think it is partly a reflex reaction. It *is* a funny remark, just one that 
is very unkind and inappropriate.
Some of us suggest other list members are bouncing ferrets on the floor and 
I'm afraid  <looking sheepish> I don't think that's a very big step away. 
(Sorry, Richard!)

Plus, he has a big problem with Hermione. I'm not defending that. It's 
immature, but there are reasons for it.

Erasmas:
> 
> 3. PoA - Remus Revelation
> 
> Clearly Snape and the rest of the staff were expected to keep quiet 
> about Lupin being a werewolf. Him telling the Slytherins about it 
> would be hard to explain with anything other than childish revenge 
> for spoiling his misguided plans. 

Eloise:
I do have a problem with this one as Remus is my next favourite character.

But there *are* other explanations. I think his actions, apart from any 
personal revenge motive may have stemmed from the fact that he genuinely 
believed that Dumbledore was wrong to employ him, a view which is likely to 
be widely held within the WW. Even Remus seems to have agreed in the end.
Exasperated at being unable to have his point of view accepted and convinced 
that  events had proved him right, he took matters into his own hands. I 
think he was wrong, but perhaps he got a little shove from the author, who 
needed Remus out of the way so that Crouch/Moody could take his place!

(And incidentally, if we had ever seen Barty Crouch Jr in any form other than 
as an hysterical youth, encumbered with Moody's disfigurements or Polyjuiced, 
I am sure that I would have found him, Ever-So-Evil as he is, extremely 
attractive. I appreciate the twisted way his mind works, even if I disapprove 
(to put it mildly) of what he does.)

Erasmas:
> 
> It boggles my mind, really, that so many HP fans can get past these 
> things. 
> 

Eloise:
Have you never believed six impossible things before breakfast? You must 
practise more! ;-)

Erasmas:
> In a way I can understand how he treats Neville (presumably 
> a "character building" excercise. 

Eloise:
Now his treatment of Neville I find harder to defend. I *don't* happen to 
believe he's trying to be character-building. I think he just doesn't suffer 
fools gladly... and as far as he's concerned, Neville's a fool.
Until we find out that their backstories are linked, of course! ;-)

Erasmas:
> He clearly has a poor understanding of Harry's character, even in the 
> fourth year, since he continues to attack Harry's presumed quest for 
> glory. Most of his attacks on Harry in class fall far from the mark 
> because they are a mere annoyance. The only times he gets a rise out 
> of Harry is when he attacks the character of his parents. 


Eloise:
I think a lot of Snape's reactions are to do with projection. I think he 
wants recognition (not necessarily 'glory') and his role as spy-turned-school 
master militates against that. Harry has gained glory at every turn, without 
even intending to. I think if Snape looked into the Mirror of Erised, he 
would see himself defeating Voldemort singlehanded. Harry is competitition, a 
threat. It is desperately immature, but I think he is genuinely jealous of 
Harry.

Erasmas:
> It seems that a lot of the theories I've seen about Snape have gone 
> way beyond an explanation of what has been shown so far in the books. 
> I guess all I'm asking is that before more theories come out that 
> provide a basis for Snape's behavior, take a good look at the 
> behavior and don't just make a theory that explains why he is stern 
> and doesn't shower. 

Eloise:
My own theory about Snape (GEORGE'S SISTER DIANA; see Hypotheticalley) 
acknowledges the flaws in his personality. He doesn't *like* being on the 
side of good, but his convictions have led him there. In the big things 
(saving Harry's life, being loyal to Dumbledore) he is sound, but he *is* a 
Slytherin, so he will favour his house and his nastiness is a safety valve 
which allows him to function within the constraints of being on the 'Light 
side.

For myself, I have in addition a compulsion to try and understand *why* 
people act as they do, not just what they hope to achieve through their 
actions. In the process find I can forgive a lot.

Eloise
Unrepentant Snapefan.
> 
> 



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