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

[arrowsmithbt]

No: HPFGUIDX 94089

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Silverthorne <silverthorne.dragon at v...> wrote:
> 
> I think you're confusing the term 'loving' with the capability to 'love'...the first is a trait 
expressed externally--the second a state of mind that may not necessarily be expressed 
in a way others can see...
>

Kneasy:
Hmm, well, I suppose he loves being miserable. Nothing wrong with
that, perfectly acceptable *So long as he knows it*. If it is a matter
of choice, then it's his own affair. 

As a more  general aside, IMO one of the great irritations of modern
society  is that  there's always someone eager to tell you how your
life could be so much better. Just listen and they will solve problems
you never knew you had. For some peculiar reason there are people
around who worry about the fact that crotchety, curmudgeonly old 
farts with vile tempers and misanthropic tendencies spurn the ersatz
bonhomie that infests society. They've got it wrong -  we're having
the time of our lives and it's none of their damn business how
I or you or him next door conduct our lives.

Just because Snape acts like a wolverine does not necessarily indicate
unhappiness. Even wolverines can be happy.

> 
> {Silverthorne}
> hehe...and I bet you cheered Ebenezer on too--at least until he 'got the idea'...*winks* 
you old codger!
> 

Kneasy:
Nah. He'd got the wrong idea - he thought money was all that mattered
in life. Everything he did was predicated by thoughts of cash. Now if at the
end when he threw those coins to the boy in the street, he'd heated them to
red heat first, then we could all have had a good laugh to end on.

 
> {Kneasy}
> JKR in one interview hinted
> that he might be redeemed, but he would never be nice; 'not nice
> at all' are the words she's used to describe him -  and now you 
> want him to be a fluffy bunny in disguise. Hearts and flowers?
> More like acid and thistles for Snape. He enjoys being misanthropic.
> 
> {Silverthorne}
> As I said, he *is* an ass. I have no illusions on that score. But even two-legged donkeys 
have feelings and are capable of love.


Kneasy:
Oh, dear.
Snape is set up as an archetype. Affection is  irrelevent to his character
as presented by JKR. He is intended as a boo!hiss! figure, and he's a
well drawn one. To complain that he's an ass is to take a  sledge-hammer
to miss a nut. He's the pantomime villain, the equivalent of the moustache
twirling rack-rent landlord "Father, Father, how can you be so cruel?"
"Practice, m'dear, practice!" 

I like him like that. Now I've posted before on *why* I think he's like that,
and it's a very tragic tale (Sob). But frankly, to foist onto him the well-
meaning but totally incongruous and misplaced concept of affection 
as the solution that can provide comfort and/or redemption boggles my
mind. And I don't boggle easily.

He's driven by revenge. Aha! Revenge is sweet! Revenge is warm and 
comforting! Revenge is satisfying! There will be those that raise their
hands in horror - Stop! Consider, it is better to forgive!" Cobblers.
Revenge is one of the great literary motivations, from Claasical
Greek theatre, through Shakespeare down to lowest Hollywood. Snape
is bent on getting his; everything else is secondary -  and it'll probably
be the death of him.

Then all the fans can gather at conventions and discuss his fascinating
but flawed character. So who in the books is perfect, that they should
criticise Sevvy posthumously? That is injury enough, but  to wish that
he has a loving side - Ugh!

It's  the equivalent of adding whipped cream to a good beer.

Kneasy