Not liking Harry's character (was Parenting Harry )

[severelysigune]

No: HPFGUIDX 120188


mcmaxslb wrote:
> > > Well after 5 novels the fact that Harry is the hero
> > of the Harry Potter books is not going to change and
> > if all of you just can't seem to deal with that then
> > maybe you should simply stop reading the books.
> > 
 
Lupinlore wrote:
<Hmmm.  Well, at the risk of making myself a lightning rod, I think 
I'm going to have to partially agree with this one.  Now, let me 
explain what I mean by that.

I think that there are a lot of people, particularly a lot of adults, 
who really aren't interested in the character of Harry.  Now, there 
isn't anything wrong with that at all.  However, it does illustrate a 
fascinating phenomenon.>


<snip>
<Now, I have to admit that I rather agree, just personally, that I 
don't understand why anyone would be interested in Snape or find him 
likeable or amusing in any way.  His remarks are hurtful and I have 
never understood it when people find hurtful remarks amusing or argue 
that people who make them are "good."  By definition, in my opinion, 
people who make remarks of the type Snape makes are not good people.  
However, I don't think people who like Snape are bullies.  I find it 
inexplicable, but that doesn't mean much.  There are a lot of things 
I don't understand.  

Nevertheless, although I can't fathom why, the fact remains that 
there are plenty of people who are fascinated by, and even identify 
with, Snape.  There are also people who identify strongly with 
McGonagall, Lupin, Sirius, and Dumbledore.  It is one of the favorite 
exercises of the fandom.>

<snip>

<However, it is true that JKR has made it clear that the books are 
very much about Harry.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with being 
fascinated by other characters.  However, if one makes the mistake of 
wanting "X" to become the hero or heroes of the epic, or for their 
story to move to center stage and overshadow Harry's, well... that's 
likely to be a recipe for severe disappointment.  And there will be a 
lot of very disappointed people when all is said and done, because 
there just isn't room enough and time to tell the stories even of Ron 
and Hermione fully, much less Neville or Luna, much less any of the 
adults.  I don't say that as any sort of judgment about what people 
should or should not be interested in, but just as my reading of 
JKR's repeated remarks about what interests her and what the epic is 
about.>


Sigune delurks, looking paler than usual after reading the recent 
string of insults against Snape fans, and clears her throat:

I suppose everyone reads books in their own way, and we all like 
different bits of them. I am very happy for those people who are most 
interested in the main characters of every novel they read - at least 
they can be more or less sure their favourites will make it till the 
end of the book.

I can't explain why, but more often than not when I read books (not 
just HP) I find that I am more fascinated by secondary characters. 
Most of the time they die halfway through the novel and leave me 
rather sad and looking out for a new favourite.

I think part of the magic of secondary characters - and Snape is a 
wonderful example - is that we simply do not know as much about them 
as we know about the main characters, but just enough to set us 
speculating. A lot is left to the reader's imagination, and you can 
fill in the gaps for yourself. That is how I (I can't speak for other 
people) get drawn into a narrative. As for Snape, I personally hope 
JKR is never going to reveal his entire story (actually I think he's 
just not important enough for her to do so), so that the merry 
speculation can continue into infinity.

Make no mistake, I *like* reading about Harry, Ron and Hermione, and 
I want to know how their story goes; but as far as *fascination* 
goes, that lies with people like Snape and Dumbledore.

So, as I see it, it's not a matter of any 'inability to deal with the 
fact that Harry is the main character' that makes me interested in 
Snape. It's just that I know too much about Harry to set my 
imagination going. And I have always been fascinated by the 
motivations people have for doing unspeakable things like joining the 
Death Eaters, just because I can't understand why anyone would. An 
interest in other people's motivations - I add this for safety's 
sake, in view of recent discussions - does *not* imply agreement with 
their deeds.

By the way: my fascination for Snape only really started when I read 
the 'Worst Memory' chapter. I became a Snape fan because I *have 
been* bullied, not because I ever bullied anyone. Snape is 
interesting because of his inability to deal with his issues, and his 
character addresses matters that people who have been through similar 
experiences have to deal with - though hopefully in a better, more 
mature way than what he makes of it.
Sorry. Just had to say my bit on that topic - as mcmaxslb would 
say, 'it touched a nerve'.

Yours severely,

Sigune