Lupin's resentment : An inside to Snape's resentment

[cerebella316]

No: HPFGUIDX 94884

Bella: 

There has been quite a bit of interesting—what do I want to call 
it? "banter"?—between Alla, Silverthorne, Kneasy, and others 
concerning the snarling Snape. (I choose the word "snarling," for 
it's alliteration and because its multiple definitions seem 
befitting!) As much as I have been trying not to get involved, I 
cannot bite my tongue any longer.


So
Silverthorne writes to Alla:

I am well aware that these are literary characters, not real (and 
therefor it puzzles *me* when you seem to defend Harry as if he were 
a real child and not the 'stereotyped' young hero that he is). 
Kneasy takes the 'evil Snape' stance and does it well--but I 
seriously doubt he is the mean old codger he appears to be on list 
(In other words, I am teasing him, as I do off list on the few times 
we have spoken). A few private emails proves him to be intelligent 
and very tolerant, in spite of his 'old codger from hell' personna 
on the board. So...if the snipped quote you used is your argument 
for me 'taking it too far and assuming that is the way he really 
is', then you might want to consider that 'what you see' is not 
necassarily 'what you get' (The very accusation you have thrown at 
me twice now).



Bella responds:

But I thought that most of the discussion on the board is in 
agreement that "what you see is not necessarily what you get" when 
it comes to Snape. And, if he is playing the role of a spy, than 
this is true not only for us as readers, but also for many of the 
characters.

And how can you blame Harry for how he perceives Snape (and 
therefore how we read him)? Snape has blatantly picked on Harry 
since Day 1 (which could very well be part of his act, but how is 
Harry to know this?) Even Hermione is surprised at the behavior of 
Snape during their first potion lessen in OoP (Ch. 12, "Professor 
Umbridge"). Was it necessary for Snape to attack Harry on the first 
day? When for once Harry hadn't done anything to provoke such 
treatment but forget to add an ingredient? I do not blame the 
character of Harry Potter for having qualms with Snape. Snape is a 
big paradox to Harry—someone he keeps being told is good, but rarely 
ever sees actions to support this. 

It's like a kid being told brussel sprouts are good for you. Time 
and time again you're forced to eat it, but the taste is so aversive 
you just can't fathom the good of it! And it's not like you can see 
the good it's doing for your body!!

At this point JK wants us to think Snape is mean, but on the good 
side. (And *mean* does not equal *bad*. Really
he's more *spiteful* 
than anything) So, then, what else would you expect to see on this 
board? The fact is, she has only been given little glimpses of 
what's good and trustworthy in Snape—not enough to draw any 
conclusive pictures of him!

And, really, saying Snape is a "tolerant" person (no one truly 
doubts his intelligence), especially when Harry, Neville, and 
Hermione are concerned, is even more of a stretch than saying that 
Ron is a jealous person who has the potential to turn on Harry. 

So please do no insinuate that this message board is closed-minded. 
We have tried to bring Snape into the light, to understand him. We 
have scrutinized every word he has uttered, action he has made. and 
we have tried again and again to justify his flaws, as we have done 
with Dumbledore, Hermione, Harry, Ron, Sirius, Remus, etc. But, as 
of now, there is very little factual information to support our 
theories that he is, for lack of better words, *nicer* than Harry 
perceives him. We often revert back to the idea that he is a "mean 
old codger" because, so far, he has predominantly been a "mean old 
codger." 

If and when he isn't anymore, there are many of us who will be more 
than happy to change our tunes, and you can say "I told you so! I 
knew it all along." But until then


~Bella, who hopes beyond all hope that Snape has a heart, but thinks 
he is absolutely abominable to Harry, Neville, Hermione...and even 
Sirius...