Why ole Snapey is a vamp was Re: No fire in the office

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 88074

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Silverthorne Dragon" 
<silverthorne.dragon at v...> wrote:
> <justcarol67 at y...> wrote:
> I don't think it's a question of who hates Snape as to why the 
theories that
> put Snape in a bad light get argued against...I think its because 
most
> theories seem dead set on making him out to be some sort of bad 
guy, while
> ignoring the postion he's in. It's a black-and-white, all-or-
nothing view
> point that makes no allowances, although plenty (and often what 
would be the
> same) allowances are given to the 'good guys' of the story.


Huh? I will speak for myself only of course , but I take exception to 
the fact that I view Snape in the black -and -white, all or nothing 
light only. If I did that, he would have been my most hated character 
in the series, as of today, believe it or not, after Harry (who is my 
absolute favourite character, no question about it) and Sirius, Snape 
is number three on my list of most liked characters in 
the "Potterverse"


it is just that I think that in his interactions with Harry and 
Neville he is wrong at least 90% of the time (even he has some 
justifiable reasons) and I reserve the right to bash him for it when 
I seefit. :o)

But I acknowledge him being a VERY multidimensional character.

> Thus far, the theories presented against him are that he 
hates/wants to
> kill/mistakes-him-for-dear-old-dad, Harry, that he's a vamp, that 
he'll
> betray the good guys in the end, that his temper in dealing with 
Harry and
> co makes him abusive, etc.

Yes, and many of those theories could be supported by at leaso some 
canonical evidence

 And the thing is, is that he's a *most
> convienient* (and admittedly bad-tempered) target. If he told Harry 
the
> things he has told him in a friendly, non-aggressive way, no one 
would
> object. 
 Could you give some examples which things that Snape said would not 
be objectionable, if they were said with the better choice of words, 
because I am afraid in my view they still would be objectionable.


If he were as 'fun' to be around as Sirius was, people would love
> him, and be rooting for him in Snape's Worst Memory when James and 
Sirius
> went after him.

Nope, absolutely not. As I mentioned to someone off list, I love 
Sirius dearly, but I was rooting for Snape in the Pensieve scene.


 If it wasn't pointed out that he was pale, greasy haired,
> and snaggled tooth at least once every book, folks would likely 
consider him
> 'handsome' with his black hair and eyes, and that would distance 
him a bit
> from the 'evil' stereotype, because they would relate better to him 
on a
> personal level (Because, admit it, most folks are highly influenced 
by
> looks--even if those 'looks' are merely talked about on the printed 
page. If
> he LOOKS that bad...there must be a reason for it...likely a 'bad' 
one). But
> because he's an ill-tempered, admittedly no-so-good-looking, pissy 
old
> codger, folks are determined to put him in the bad guy role, 
whether it's as
> DE, double agent, or abuser of children. Basically, folks don't 
like his
> style, so he MUST be bad. 

You are making an assumption, which I take an exception too again. :o)

None of the adult male characters in the "Potterverse" are my type, 
If I were to judge by the looks only. I usually don't care about the 
dark - haired men at all, unless I like their personality. :o)
Snape looks do not influence my view of him. Actually, I am a huge 
Slash fan and Snape and Sirius my very favourite pairing. 

The only reason why I like Sirius a little more is despite his many 
personality flaws, he was shown as capable of love and I submit that 
it is a valid reason to like or dislike the characters judging by 
their attitude to the main character.

If by the end of the books we'll learn that Snape was protecting 
Harry all the time and liking him along th way, i'll change my mind.

But his looks have NOTHING to do with anything for me at least.

And adding vampirism to his list of 'sins' only
> seems 'right' in that type of thought process.


Why him being a vampire should be a "sin"?

I don't mind him being a vampire for two reasons.

First was what Amanda mentioned - it will give additional proof to 
the fact that Sirius was only trying to scare, not to kill him during 
the Prank.

Second - it will help me to stomach his abusive methods of teaching 
easier, because if he is a vampire he may have a different system of 
values indeed and he may indeed not to pay much attention to 
such 'minor" htings as individual feelings. ;o)


> Admittedly, when Snape first came on the scene, I had no more love 
for him
> than the average Harry fan. In fact, I thought he was a right royal 
bastard.
> He IS mean, snarky, and not pleasant. But, as Rowling is revealing 
through
> the books, he has reason, and good ones, for why he is the way he 
is. The
> audience may not relate very well, because they have never been the 
adult
> survivor of an abusive household (one that has likely never had the 
benefit
> of a qualified councillor), have never had to dig themselves out of 
a wholly
> wrong situation they'd gotten themselves into (Like joining a 
murderous
> cult, which you could easily relate the DE to), have never had to 
be a spy
> for thier country, and against former friends and allies no less, 
have never
> been mercilessly bullied by the 'good guys' at school, and have 
never been
> talked down to and ignored for most of thier life (Even Dumbly 
tends to cut
> Snape off when he gets started). It's easy to discount someone when 
you
> haven't had those experiences...just as easy as assigning them 
a 'factual'
> trait that is based more on what people think they see, as opposed 
to what
> is there. Snape's situation requires both thought and the ability to
> re-evaluate him every time a new piece of information about him is
> presented. He is not a black-and-white character, and black-and-
white
> thinking won't be accurate. Like real life, Snape is not easily 
defined, and
> shouldn't be. And that includes assigning him an 'obvious' trait 
like
> vampirism.



You don't know which of those experiences I had been through, right? 
secondly even if we were to assume, which is not true, that I had not 
been through any of them, it does not make me less sophisticated 
reader than you are.

I just choose to interpret Snape's actions differently.

 Alla