Evaluating Snape (was: Re: Lupin's resentment )

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 94187

Susan: 
> > CHAMBER OF SECRETS:
> > "Professor Severus Snape was Harry's least favorite teacher.  
> > Harry also happened to be Snape's least favorite student.  
> > Cruel, sarcastic, and disliked by everybody except the students 
> > from his own house (Slytherin)...." [US, p. 77]
 
Potioncat: 
> Just wondering is this Harry's view or JKR"s? The question came up 
> in mind when I was reading it. 

SUSAN:
Yes, me, too.  I wondered as I typed it.  I included it & one other 
statement like it because they were both written as what I'd 
call "narrator speak" (clearly, lit crit wasn't my major)...at least 
not as "And Harry thought to himself" or whatever.  But still a good 
question to ask.  Whose perspective?

Potioncat:
> I will add as an observation not an excuse, Snape was not hired 
> for his teaching skills.  Once this is over, surely he will find a 
> different place to work. (Fans' dreams of his being a Headmaster 
> one day aside.)  I think he wants Harry to learn the information 
> and  tries to force it into him the best way he knows how.  A 
> Lupin type teacher could probably teach him much better.  But DD 
> hires LV fighters, not teachers.

SUSAN:
Interesting thoughts.  I'm not sure Snape will surivive the series, 
though I hope he does.  I'd never really considered Snape leaving 
Hogwarts.  Do others agree w/ Potioncat that, if he survives, he'll 
go off to pursue another career?

> Potioncat (still a Snape fan)

SUSAN:
Believe it or not, I would say that I am, too...probably in the 
sense Kneasy usually notes:  Snape is the most *fascinating* 
character in the books, imo (and, yes, there's that Rickman!Snape 
thing going for me, too).  I think Snape has major faults--
particularly in his teaching style and w/ the ending Occlumency 
lessons thing--but I *love* reading about him and find chapters 
where he is prevalent among my most favorite chapters.  I cannot 
wait to find out all those things we've all been speculating about 
for months & years--IS he a double agent? Is he really a good guy? 
Why did he leave the DEs? Did he make the potion which helped Voldy 
live? Was he at Godric's Hollow? Was there more to the prank? Surely 
he's not a vampire? Will he & Harry ever come to a place of mutual 
respect?  In short, he's flawed but he's **fascinating**!  So, yes, 
I'd call myself a fan as well.  [Which I suppose is a "duh" kind of 
statement, given my name here.]

Siriusly Snapey Susan