Snape, the "Deeply Horrible Person"

[Brian]

No: HPFGUIDX 94337

Jen wrote:
> > > > 
> > This seems like a *very* strong negative characterization to me. 
> > It also doesn't seem particulary consistent with the canon we 
have 
> > so far. Snape is presented as complex, bitter, angry, etc. But 
> > I've never seen his behavior as "deeply horrible" in the way of, 
> > say, LV's behavior.

Brian writes:

The classroom (and out of classroom) behavior Snape has demonstrated 
constitute "seriously horrible" in my view.  I've taught a few 
classes in my day, and, at least in the context of my personality, it 
takes some serious willpower to do and say some of the things Snape 
has done and said.  Even if he is the "complex villain" that many 
hope him to be, some of his words and actions are startingly cruel.  
If JKR is ever found guilty of any literary fault, it might be that 
her adult perspectives bleed through her constructions of character 
and dialogue.  Snape's characterization, in my view, has all the 
hallmarks of an adult description.  His actions might be defensible 
from a Machiavellian perspective, but from a human nature 
perspective, he is either one hell of a method actor or he is a 
seriously sadistic Snape!  
> > 
> > Since we only know what JKR has given us so far, but she carries 
> > with her the full knowledge of each character's past and future 
> > actions, I tend to think of these interview comments as either 
> > subtle slip-ups or JKR subtly manipulating the way we see a 
> > character (for the future *Bang* value!).
> > 
> Brian writes:
JKR has, so far, given a few hints that we should treat Snape with 
more derision than we have, so far.  Her interviews are interesting 
in that we might never know how much her fans have influenced her 
fiction.  If she peruses the Internet, and, no doubt, this site, she 
might be responding to postings that she's seen.  I guess the short 
version of my post is that JKR has got one hell of a poker face or 
she is jerking us like the proverbial gherkin!


> I keep thinking back to a report made [I believe in Newsweek] 
before 
> the SS movie came out, about how JKR had said some things to Alan 
> Rickman which no one else knew so far and which helped him in his 
> portrayal of Snape.  [I think Chris Columbus remarked about how 
> strange it was to see Rickman in the role, because it was *clear* 
he 
> knew more of what was going on than we do.]  Yet, would most people 
> agree with me that Rickman's Snape has seemed *less* "deeply 
> horrible" than the written Snape?  I wonder what that means, then?
> 
> Siriusly Snapey Susan

Brian writes:

I agree that Rickman's snape seems remotely redeemable.  If you 
compare his portrayal of this Snape with his portrayal of the Sheriff 
of Nottingham, Snape seems downright amiable!  This comment is in the 
HPFGU-movie province, but we are discussing JKR's comment, with the 
assumption that she has spoken with the actors who portray characters 
on the big screen.  

Someone once advised me to read _Ivanhoe_, by Sir Walter Scott, 
because the villain, Sir Brian de Bois Guilbert is a "complex 
villain."  After reading the admittedly plodding book, I realized 
that de Guilbert was a complex villain because his epistemology and 
worldview were quite individuated for the times in which he was set.  
If Snape meets these criteria, we can add him to the list of complex 
villains.  Or, perhaps, he will join the ranks of redeemed villains, 
like Darth Vader.

Brian B., who can't get enough HPFGU.


ADMIN NOTE:  Please send any responses addressing Rickman's portrayal of Snape should to our sister list, HPFGU-Movie.  Responses comparing Snape to literary villains may, of course, be posted here.