Sirius / Severus (long)

[greatlit2003]

No: HPFGUIDX 85873

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "melclaros" <melclaros at y...> 
wrote:

>Severus is on Severus' side, plain and simple. 
> He's got something he needs done and he'll do what it takes to see 
it 
> through.
> 



Brilliant. Ten points to your House :) In my opinion, that statement 
sums up what Severus is all about. I don't see him as the community-
minded person that DD is (the welfare of the world is not his 
concern). Nevertheless, I think that Snape does have a sense of 
responsibility in completing what he set out to do, and he will help 
anyone who helped him (i.e. Dumbledore). I think of Snape as a 
deeply driven individual who is not afraid to take risks to 
accomplish his goals. What sets him apart from Gryffindors is his 
self-centeredness. He is not like Harry, who has always fought on 
behalf of others (except in the graveyard, where Harry was just 
trying to survive. But even there, Harry took a risk in saving 
Cedric's body). While Harry's motivation in taking risks has always 
been about "doing the right thing", Snape has more clearly defined 
goals.
DD helps him, so he will help DD, which includes teaching Harry 
Occlumency, etc.
James saved his life, so he tried to return the favor by telling DD 
that V-mort was after the Potters. In spite of Snape's efforts, 
James still died. So, Snape saved Harry's life ten years later to 
pay back his debt. 

The question I want answered is whether Snape loves anyone? He is 
loyal to DD, but are they friends in the Gryffindor way? Would Snape 
die for someone not to fulfill his own agenda, but just out of love? 
Sadly, I suspect that the answer to this is no, which is perhaps why 
JKR seems so fond of Sirius, but not Snape (from what I understand 
by looking at interviews). Sirius wasn't a much better human being 
than Snape is (aside from the Death Eater past), but he at least put 
other people's needs above his own. Sirius was arrogant, immature, 
hot-headed, and had a questionable sense of humor, but he was a 
loyal friend and a loving godfather. I'm not sure if Snape, in spite 
of all the work he does for the Order, has this capability.

I see a lot of parallels between Sirius and Severus, and I wonder 
why they are so different? They were both exposed to the Dark Arts 
at a young age, and presumably had bad childhoods, including abusive 
parents and dysfunctional families. So why did Sirius develop the 
capability to love, and become an outgoing person, while Severus 
withdrew into himself? I think that with these two characters, JKR 
is examining two possible outcomes of similar situations. Granted, 
we don't know everything about Severus yet, but from what we do 
know, I think that it is safe to say that his past gave him a drive 
to study the Dark Arts (possibly because of his father?) so that he 
would be able to defend himself. Sirius, on the other hand, shunned 
his past.

Any thoughts?

greatlit2003
who doesn't want Snape to die, but if he does, he should in a better 
way than Sirius :)