Questions.

[magicroxx]

No: HPFGUIDX 73687

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Talisman" <talisman22457 at y...> 
wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "magicroxx" <magicroxx at y...> 
> answered one of Will's questions by saying:
> > 
> > let's not forget that JK said that we musn't get too fond of 
> Severus, that we are right to be suspecting him.
> > Roxx
> 
> Talisman, turning from the silvery mist of her carefully tended 
> cauldron, scowls and asks:
> 
> Would you mind providing us with the reference for your JKR cite, 
> magicroxx?
> 
> As it happens, I have just completed a review of extant JKR 
> interviews with regard to Snape.  I found no such statement.  
> 
> Moreover, upon reading your missive, I returned to my research and 
> entered the search terms "fond" and "Snape."  Again, I found no 
such 
> statement. 
> 
> Perhaps this is your interpretation, one which imposes your own 
> personal assumptions on JKR's more circumspect statements.
> 
> It's fine if you want to offer your own views, but they should be 
> labeled as such, not attributed to JKR. 
> 
> In fact, it is Draco--not Snape--that JKR warned readers not to 
> become too fond of, in her June 2003 Albert Hall interview.
> 
> Snape is not "nice" in any conventional meaning of the word. But, 
> anyone who has read the series as far as book 5 should, by now, be 
> able to distinguish between "nice" and "good."
> 
> What JKR does say, is that she modeled Snape after a teacher she 
> despised (The Record, Oct.14, 1999), that he was an example of a 
> teacher who abuses his power over students (The Connection, Oct. 
12, 
> 1999). 
> 
> I think that it would be safe to assume that this "modeling" 
> pertains to his classroom behavior, not to his work as a DEspy.  
> 
> Snape enjoys Dumbledores trust and protection and is a respected 
> member of the Order, therefore it follows that JKR does not 
> disapprove of Snape's behavior in toto.
> 
> This is confirmed by her further comments in the Connection 
> interview, supra. Following her allowance that Snape is "not a 
> particularly pleasant person," she states:
> 
>    "However, everyone should keep their eye on Snape, I'll just
>     say that there is more to him than meets the eye and you will 
>     find out part of what I'm talking about if you read Book 4." 
> 
> Now, for those who were dozing in class, the term "however" in this 
> context is a term of contradiction, equivalent to "in spite of [his 
> unpleasantness]," or "by contrast."   
> 
> If you are following along, then you now see that the "hidden" 
> aspects of Snape are in contrast to his surface appearance, i.e. 
> they are not nasty or unlikeable.
> 
> Indeed, keep your eye on Snape (The Connection, Oct. 12, 1999; 
> Barnes and Noble Chat, Oct. 20, 2000; Albert Hall June 2003); for 
> that is what JKR says, she does not say "suspect" him. 
> 
> Keep your eye on him, I say,  because he is an important part of 
the 
> denouement, an important part of the final twist. 
> 
> In the Connection interview JKR is asked about a 
> perceived "redemptive pattern" in regard to Snape.
> 
> JKR stammers around for awhile trying to answer the query, and then 
> decides she can't say anything without ruining the plot, confesses 
> to being stunned by the question and promises the questioner that 
> reading Book 7 will reveal why she is stunned.
> 
> Now, obviously you can take this how you like, but I just don't 
> think she would be stunned by the question if she really intends to 
> end Snape as a villan. I think she rather likes to fool people, and 
> would chuckle and say something light.
>  
> My call is that she is taken off guard, stunned if you will, 
because 
> as early as 1999 someone has penetrated Snape's surface appearance 
> and sniffed out part of her big final twist.
> 
> Moreover, though I don't really support dirtying the canon with 
> movie fodder, she does say she gave Rickman special info for SS 
(BBC 
> Nov. 2, 2001) and there is definitely a scene in the Great Hall 
> before the Quidditch match where Snape seems uncharacteristically 
> worried about/kind to Harry.
> 
> Talisman, who sees nothing wrong with a little emoting, though 
> unbridled is does become tiresome, and can even tolerate some 
> extempore chatter--in hopes that it will foster creativity--but 
> really thinks we ought to strive to impose some intellectual 
> discipline on our attempts at explication.

You are right in saying that I have somehow reflected my own 
perceptions of Snape onto some implications that have been stated by 
JK in interviews. I admit that I do not read and re-read interviews 
as often as the books. I assure you that this was completely an 
unconcious cognitive mistake that it occured when I recalled what she 
had said in her interviews. I have reread the interview and she does 
use the term 'fond' with Draco. Easy cognitive mistake. By the term 
suspect, I did not mean to assume that he is guilty of serious 
crimes, but rather 'keep an eye on him'. I am sure there was a better 
word for it. 

I would like to further clarify my statement by disclosing my 
personal views on Snape. Until OOTP, I was a snape-fan. I enjoyed his 
presence in the books and regarded him as a proper villain, not at 
all brought about by the movies. Now, I pretty much despise him, 
after the treatment of Harry in potions, I don't like him at all. 
Mostly because I know what its like to a have teacher like that. I do 
not think that his loyalty will waver  from the order. I think he 
knows where his priorities are and that he probably has good reason 
to be doing what he is doing (spying). I am a firm believer in the 
theory that Snape is a vampire, and that is why I say that we should 
be 'suspect' of him. Vampires, like werewolves, can be dangerous no 
matter whose side they are on. On top of that, I think that is 
Voldemort's fault that Snape is a vampire and that is why he switched 
sides. 

Given the fact, that any post where I bring up major point of mine, I 
usually do so, only with the facts from the books and even list page 
reference, I think I can be pardoned this once. 



Jackson: "Professor Snape has always wanted to be Defence Against 
Dark Arts teacher. In book 5 he still hasn't got the job. Why does 
Prof Dumbedore not allow him to be Defence Against The Dark Arts 
teacher?" 

JK Rowling: That is an excellent question and the reason is that I 
have to be careful what I say here. To answer it fully would give a 
lot away about the remaining two books.

When Prof Dumbledore took Prof Snape onto the staff and Prof Snape 
said "I'd like to be Prof of Defence Against the Dark Arts please" 
and -Prof Dumbledore felt it might bring out the worst in Snape- so 
said "I think we'll get you to teach Potions and see how you get 
along there".