Conspiracy Theories - Clue, hints, & Theories

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 97443

Kathy wrote:
<snip> It appears that JKR has gone to extensive lengths, at least to
the major players, to create entire backgrounds for her own use. Given 
this bit of insight to her complexity, we may need a very large 
magnifying glass in picking out her very subtle clues.

 
> bboy_mn responded:
I don't think the question is so much are the stories rich in clues
and hidden significant details as it is, which details are significant
and which are not. Are Snapes dress, demeanor, and actions hints that
he is a vampire, or are those just random insignificant details that
mean nothing except to overwrought late-night conspiracy theorist?
<snip>

Carol:
Regarding Snape, I don't think we need to make a choice between
"random, insignificant details" and hints that he's a vampire.
Description, like setting, helps create atmosphere and helps the
reader to visualize the story. More important, it's often, if not
usually, a part of character development--not that characters are what
they appear to be (obviously not the case for Sirius in PoA or
Quirrell in SS/PS) but that other characters judge them, at least in
part, by their appearance. (Think of Hermione's judgment of Fleur, for
example, or the boys in general of Cedric.) 

I think Snape's dress, demeanor, and actions are significant in
helping us to visualize Snape and arouse our curiosity about him. I'm
not sure how much insight they provide into who he really is, but
they're certainly powerful aids to our understanding of who he *seems*
to be, especially to Harry. As I think you agree, there's no need to
associate those details with vampires at all. He simply swoops like a
bat with his black cloak floating behind him. Based on that image and
others like it (along with his speech patterns and his ability to put
two and two together), and you can interpret him as sinister or as
mysteriously Gothic/Romantic, or both, as you choose. 

Carol, who chooses both but nevertheless believes that Snape is loyal
to Dumbledore and adamantly opposed to Voldemort