Snape and Lupin's Character Arcs (was: Lupin's Char Arc)

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 119464


> Lupinlore:
No, not moral perfection.  I am speaking of the fact that Snape 
is  arrogant, abusive, and hypocritical.  [snipped here]  Sorry, 
Snape is just in the wrong.<

> Pippin:
Yeah, he's a jerk all right. But that's not a crime. It's bad karma, 
if you believe in that, and he certainly suffers the providential 
justice of JKR's pen, but if he hasn't figured that out in thirty-
five odd years, it's not likely to dawn on him shortly.< 


Betsy:
I would come down somewhere in the middle here and say that Snape's 
behavior when it comes to Harry *is* immature and arrogant, but 
that's what I love about the character.  Yes, his behavior towards 
Harry is wrong (too cruel and often uncalled for), but damn 
entertaining and in the end, very humanizing.

Here's this ostensibly dignified and intelligent man, totally 
loosing it over an eleven year old.  Immediately, he's more 
interesting than MM.  First you think he's the big evil, but then 
you realize that he's actually a good guy *and* the major "save-
Harry's-butt" guy.  For me it adds so much depth to the character of 
Snape to realize that his dislike of Harry is based on an old school 
rivalry.  It gives him a layer of passion and intensity.  And where 
MM stays pretty firmly in the realm of "dignified teacher," Snape is 
brought down to the level of human being.

Eventually, I'd love to see Snape finally let go of his old school 
hurts.  Just as I'd love Lupin to get over his need to please (or at 
least need to not-annoy).  In a way, I think Snape and Lupin could 
be intertwined on this particular journey.

Betsy, who's new and taking a deep breath and jumping right in.