Snape, the "Deeply Horrible Person"

[vmonte]

No: HPFGUIDX 94415

J Spencer wrote:

...So it seems to me entirely possible that JKR writes (or talks to 
Rickman) with the conviction that Snape is a horrible person, and 
because that fact is self-evident to her, she interprets her own 
words as supporting it...whereas that fact comes across as clear to 
some of us, but not to others, because for whatever reason we didn't 
pick up the "horrible" impression from the beginning.
 
On another tangent, I also wonder whether the phrase "deeply 
horrible" is in reference only to Snape's personality, or to his 
story as a whole...not only his thoughts and actions, but also 
perhaps the things that have happened to him?


vmonte responds:
It's ok to like Snape's character even if he is "deeply horrible" you 
know. 
JKR knows all of Snape's secrets so I think that when she states that 
he is "deeply horrible" -- it's because he is.  

I think that there are many times in the books where JKR makes the 
point that people can choose who they become (regardless of their 
past or where they came from). For example: Harry chooses to be in 
Gryffindor instead of Slytherin! 
I don't think that she is talking about the horrible things that made 
Snape who he is (although I'm sure those things helped to make him 
who he is), but the deeply horrible person and life he chooses to be 
and have.   
Personally I would rather that Snape (who is an interesting and 
complex character) be the true villian, and not Voldemort, who I 
think is a joke.