What's wrong with Mean!Snape ?

[delwynmarch]

No: HPFGUIDX 115287



Nora wrote :
" I think tolerance is an important issue, and I think there *are* 
lessons to be learned about allowing Snape to be himself.  On the 
other hand, I think there is a reciprocal issue--Snape learning that 
he shouldn't always treat people as he does.  I keep coming back to 
problems of liberalism, but 'you gotta get along to go along' is one
of them."

Del replies :
I agree. The only problem I see is that Snape does *not* want to get
along. He seems to barely want to go along. We still don't know why he
changed camps, why he works for the good side. He does seem to have
quite a lot of respect, and maybe even affection, for DD and maybe for
McGonagall, but those two might be the *exceptions*, not the rule.
They might be the only ones Snape actually wants to get along with,
which is why he tends to do as they ask.

I think that Snape has learned a long time ago that he shouldn't treat
people as he does. But in my idea, he simply doesn't care. He is
voluntarily, willfully, doing what he knows he shouldn't be doing, and
he is shamelessly deriving pleasure from some of the things he does.
This is perfectly immoral, for sure, but many people do that every
day, from the kid who steals candies, to the teenager who watches
adult movies, to the boss who sexually harrasses his secretary, to the
teacher who ridicules his student... Oops :-) !

I don't like Mean!Snape, of course I don't. But I do think he
represents an important part of society. And asking him to change is
like expecting all the mean people around us to see the light. Most of
them won't, and even if they do many will choose to remain selfish and
self-centered. Reciprocality is an ideal, not a reasonable expectation.

Let's not forget that Scrooge is a character in a *Christmas* tale. By
definition, Christmas stories don't happen the rest of the year.

Del