Snuffing Out Snape (Re: Snape, the "Deeply Horrible Person")

[severelysigune]

No: HPFGUIDX 94506

Jen Reese wrote:
<<For Snape to be redeemed in the end, he needs to be dead. I can't 
even tell you why I feel this way. I don't hate the character-- he's 
an interesting read, and has played an important role in Harry's life 
and magical development, if not a particularly *pleasant* role.

Does anyone else feel this way and if so, please explain it to me?!? 
So, no, I don't want to see a kinder, gentler Snape (yuck--can you 
imagine?). I do think it's important he play a pivotal role in 
assisting Harry one more time with LV, then he meets his maker.>>

Kneasy replied:
<<Well, it  all depends on how you  see Snape and how you think the
story will go, plus personal attitudes to mayhem and violence as a 
plot resolution device. Those who hope or expect that decency,  
moderation, forgiveness or sweetness  and light to prevail will have 
one view; I take the other. (Surprise, surprise.)>>

Sigune now:
Why, I must disagree with your reasoning there, Kneasy. I don't think 
that any hopes of Snape's survival automatically imply a belief in or 
hope for "decency, moderation, forgiveness", let alone "sweetness and 
light" - I know I for one don't go in for that kind of mellow, fluffy 
stuff; but I do feel Snape should survive the whole mess. He has done 
so before; why shouldn't he get away with it now?

Snape surviving the Second War also doesn't mean he is suddenly going 
to be all nice and kind and sweet - that would indeed be a rather 
undesirable effect, to the extent that for the story's sake I'd 
rather see Voldy win than Severus turn amiable :).

Kneasy wrote: 
<<Look at the way Snape has been presented over 5 books -  he's  
almost been written into a cul-de-sac. Unlikeable person, doing a 
dangerous job for the Order, a deserter from Voldy - not a naturally 
forgiving employer,  the personal enemy of the putative hero and not 
giving a damn about it, a loner. Nah, he's been handed the Black Spot 
all right.>>

Sigune again:
Well - I guess this is just my view of Snape, but I'd say his being 
in a cul-de-sac sounds to me like the greatest guarantee he'll 
survive. He's something of an escape artist, that one. He doesn't 
seem the kind of man who'd start on a dangerous game if he didn't 
know he had considerable chances of winning it in one way or another. 
Slytherin caution paired off with Slytherin cunning.

Kneasy:
<snip observation about his being a loner - I totally agree>
<<There is a small band of posters, possibly steeped in the tradition 
of Restoration tragedy (where usually *everybody* ends up dead) who  
recognise the Snape character. And he's motivated by  revenge. You're 
probably sick and tired of reading Kneasy, together with the likes of
melclaros banging on about the same old thing, but that's because no 
other outcome would tie up so many loose ends and remain credible. To 
have an end where sunshine floods sweeping meadows, bluebirds twitter 
on high and Snape becomes a bluff, kindly old duffer might suit 
Disney (spit), but it would hardly be true to the tale.>>

Sigune yet again:
Oh come on! I won't be accused of Disneyism for feeling he should 
survive! I'm positively allergic to sunshine (literally and 
figuratively). For one thing, I love recognisable types from 
Restoration tragedy, or any other tradition, to turn out just that 
bit different. My favourite books and films are those that undermine 
such types. Look at Oscar Wilde's plays: audiences used to recognise 
types, like for example Mrs Erlynne in Lady Windermere's Fan. She is 
based on the Woman with a Past, the kind of character supposed to die 
at the end of the play. But does she die? Certainly not - she goes 
off to the Continent with a newly acquired wealthy husband, and that 
is why she is an original character. She also has the wittiest lines. 
Now this kind of things make Wilde's plays different from his 
contemporaries, and better.
So yes, Snape is a recognisable type: let's have our expectations 
undermined then. Let him live, scarred and misanthropic and acid and 
at war with the rest of mankind, but don't let him walk the path that 
seems so obvious - that towards death and redemption through death.

Kneasy:
<snip>
<<He'll die. I only hope that when he does, it's close enough to the 
end for him to recognise that he's a winner, that he is revenged. He 
might not be 'nice', but I think he deserves that.>>
<snip>

Sigune (for the last time):
He deserves even more. For my part he should be allowed some gloating 
over those he's fooled, too, whoever they may turn out to be. 
No really. If he dies, I'll feel horribly cheated. Let him live 
nastily ever after for a change.

Yours severely,

Sigune