What's wrong with Mean!Snape ?

[dzeytoun]

No: HPFGUIDX 115283


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Nora Renka" <nrenka at y...> 
wrote:
> 

> 
> I'm unresolved on the issue of whether Snape is capable of change.  
> Feeling somewhat optimistic, I would like to hope that he is.  But 
> I'm almost tempted to sit down and try to construct out an IF/THEN 
> flowchart of all the possibilities of motivations and outcomes that 
> we've all argued about over the years, because some of them are 
> mutually contradictory--and if we try to accept all of them, we get 
> PreposterouslyCompetent!Snape.  That is to say, Snape who is very 
> deeply damaged and cannot help his behavior towards the kids, BUT 
> he's also really just doing it out of frustration and also trying 
to 
> help them along as he's completely aware of the importance of Harry 
> AND he always has their best interests in mind; he's emotionally 
> damaged from abuse BUT is still perfectly in control of his 
emotions 
> to succeed as a spy...
> 
> I bet there's one piece of missing information that would trigger a 
> cascade of 'Oh, that's it?'
> 

Excellent answer, Nora!  I think you are quite right that there is a 
crucial piece of information coming that will make these issue 
largely resolve.  Just three comments:

1) However it resolves, some of us are going to be very 
disappointed.  As you say, the different theories about Snape are 
incompatible, and somebody has to see treasured 
theories/interpretations fly out the window;

2) I hope the information is significant/surprising/satisfying, but 
I'm afraid we might be disappointed there, too (prophecy anyone?);

3) Some significant issues are likely to be left over even after the 
revelation.  Despite what JKR says, tight plotting is not exactly her 
greatest strength.

Dzeytoun