HP and the Half Blood Git

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 105497

caesian wrote:
> And while I'm at it, Snape (a fictional character, I know) has 
> been irritating me. Again.  I'm OK with the subtlety of Albus 
> Dumbledore allowing Snape to terrorize a generation of students - 
> to their detriment - to no other purpose than the possible defeat 
> of Voldemort.  I'm OK with Snape being a jerk.  So long as he 
> stays on his page, I love it.  
> 
> On the other hand, those who ascribe secret good intentions to the 
> character of Snape make my brain hurt and my blood insulin soar 
> worse than a quickly consumed pint of Hagendaaz (strawberry).  
> He's a mean evil jerk for the good of Harry and Neville?  No.  And 
> what makes my angst worse is that people who post these ideas are 
> smart and cool.  I read and Respect their posts (the analogy is to 
> Hagendaaz strawberry, after all).  
> 
> Some might say that a central message in the Septology is that the 
> world is not divided into Good People and Death Eaters.  I would 
> agree.  But in the case of Snape, I'll guide that point to it's 
> logical conclusion - that the world is not divided into Death 
> Eaters and people who aren't Evil Gits.  Snape might not be a 
> Death Eater.  He might be helping Dumbledore.  He might even die a 
> heroic death in glorious sacrifice for Harry, or some such.  But 
> he Is evil.  Not irredeemable (if Tom Riddle can experience 
> forgiveness, who can't?).  But alot worse than "not a nice guy".  
> He's a bad guy.  He might not be a death eater, but that doesn't 
> make him good.

SSSusan:
In reading this, I was, of course, asking myself whether I'm one of 
those posters who've been annoying you w/ my remarks about Snape.  
I've called myself a Snape-aholic but NOT a Snape-apologist...and 
I'm quite willing to be a Snape-basher on occasion...so I simply 
don't know.

But I *would* ask you how you know what the "logical conclusion" to 
draw is?  Isn't that a big part of what Snape-aholics have been 
saying?  That there is so much which is unanswered about our former-
DE-turned-potions-master?  Without some answers, how do we *know* 
that he is evil?  Cruel, sadistic (JKR's word), abusive (JKR's 
term), sarcastic--all that is clearly available in canon or in JKR 
interviews.  But "evil"?  That seems an awfully strong & certain 
conclusion to draw at this point.  Could you say more?

Siriusly Snapey Susan