Trial of Snape/ cultural differences between WW and ours

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 128318

Ginger:
I quite agree that she is writing about humans, but humans differ in 
customs and traditions.  I definately see where you are coming from: 
the WW she is writing about is as British as the RW she writes 
about.  

But they are also very different.  We see it in characters like 
Hermione and her SPEW efforts.  

Alla:

Well, here is where  we disagree, I suppose. I am one of those and 
who could be very wrong of course, who believe that WW and our 
world  are not as different as it seems. Looking at SPEW example, I 
can bet you that elves will be free at the end ( not that I am 
particularly interested in that, mind you, but I believe that JKR 
does parallel RL more than she wants to show that elves should be 
left alone because they are such creatures who enjoy being enlsaved)

Again, just me.


 
Ginger:  
As for you personally, I think you are one of the most concientious 
people on the list when it comes to specifying that your opinions 
are your own and not forcing them on others.  I do not always agree 
with you, but I enjoy your posts, and that is one of the reasons.  
That and the fact that you write well.


Alla:

Thank you! :-)

Ginger: 
Forcing "RL thought on the WW" is interesting.  It goes back to what 
I said earlier about judgements.  (I warned you there was more to 
come;o)  I see judging the WW by RW standards like judging another 
culture by one's own.  

Alla:

Yes, as I said we disagree. I don't see much difference ( I see some 
of course) between WW and ours, except that they have  magic and we 
don't. :-)


Ginger: 
Pardon my memory, but I remember you saying you are in the US now, 
but originally from ???? I can't remember.  Sorry about that.  

Alla: Ukraine.



Ginger:
Where do we as readers draw the line?  I guess that varies from 
person to person.  I certainly have no problem with a person not 
liking Snape because of the way he behaves.  I understand it 
totally.  He's not a nice guy at all.  (I hope that wasn't a spoiler 
for anyone;o)

Alla:

I don't think the line SHOULD be drawn at all. I think it is very 
reasonable for the reader to analyse the character under the system 
of values reader is  the most familiar  with. I mean, sure we will 
many different interpretations, but that is the fun, right?



Ginger:
We do place judgements on characters.  It's part of the reading 
process.  It's how we get involved in the story line. 

Alla:

Now, THAT I agree with.

Ginger:

I'm not conerned with people saying "I hate Snape because..."  I 
just wonder why some people (and I'm not saying you, Alla) think he 
*must* change or that JKR "shouldn't" write him as a mean person.  
To me it's part of the story.  It's the taking him out of his 
environment and putting him in ours that I don't understand.  Apples 
to oranges, and all that.

Alla:

Several things going on here. I said many times that I don't think 
that they are mutually exclusive.

First - I absolutely ENJOY Snape as part of the story. I do NOT want 
him out of the story, absolutely not. I would also never say that 
JKR should not write him as mean character.

But, I absolutely, most definitely WANT Snape to change at the END 
of the series, not now. I will be dissapointed, if he will not 
change. I think it is my right as a reader to think about what 
direction I want the character to go. In fact, the hope that Snape 
will change is what keeps me from thinking of him as "love to hate" 
character  and instead  I am still on "love/hate" level.

Am I making sense? As JKR's creation, as literary character, I will 
always like Snape. From within the story, if he will be the same at 
the end, I will be annoyed.





Ginger,
 who was a very Snape-like Sunday School teacher at one time, 
> and it went well.

Alla:

Hmmm, please allow me to challenge this phrase. :-) Let me explain 
why. 
To me  the definition of Snape-like teacher  must ABSOLUTELY include 
the fact that said teacher has a grudge against dead parent of one 
of his/her student AND  because of that goes out of his way to make 
the said student life absolutely miserable.

Without it, to me the definition of "Snape-like" teacher is just not 
complete. Although I don't know you personally, I sincerely doubt 
that you were a teacher like that. :-)

That is probably the main reason I think Snape shouldn't be allowed 
nowhere around students. Even though he does it to one student,where 
is the guarantee that if someone else will not insult him during his 
long life as WW, he won't do the same thing to said person's child?




Just my opinion of course,

Alla.