Snape's hidden plan?/Alan Rickman 's quote repost

[lealess]

No: HPFGUIDX 136173

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, <dumbledore11214 at y...> wrote:
> Alla:
> 
> I don't see him as a ruler, but I most definitely see him as someone 
> who has delusions of grandeur.
> 
> The man in his late thirties screams " I , half blood prince". 
> Considering the fact that it was the name he created  for himself as 
> a child, I find it pretty pathetic,to put it mildly.
> 
> [snip] 
> It was cited here few months ago and maybe even earlier, but I could 
> not find the post, so I just searched the Internet.
> 
> This is Alan Rickman's quote about Snape. No, I am not asking  
> anybody to take it as canon, but if JKR indeed told him a few things 
> about Snape, which we are not privy too yet, I think it makes whole 
> lot of sense especially in light of HBP.
> 
> "From Unreel Magazine:
> Q: Can you tell us a little about your character, Professor Snape?
> AR: Well, he's a Professor of Potions and the current head of 
> Slytherin at Hogwarts-the school of wizardry that Harry attends, but 
> he harbors a secret ambition to be a Professor of Dark Arts. He 
> isn't that taken with Harry, though, probably because he finds him a 
> little too popular for a first year pupil, I suppose. I think at 
> heart, Snape is basically quite an insecure person, he's always 
> longing to be something else that people would really respect, like 
> a black magician, not just a school master. That's why he envies the 
> more popular and sucessful boys like Harry. He does have his 
> positive side, though, even though Harry's a thorn in his side, he 
> doesn't let it worry him too much."
> 
> 
> Hmm, he ls always longing to be something else that people would 
> really respect, like a black magician...
> 

lealess:

Snape may be flawed, but he is generally not stupid.  Given the other
factors I mentioned in my post, the bulk of which you did not address,
it seems unlikely Snape is planning to become a Dark Overlord.  If he
is, it will come out of left field, as the basis for it has not been
developed in the story.  (Well, that has been known to happen, I suppose.)

As for delusions of grandeur, his sole ambition has been stated over
and over to be a DADA professor -- is this grand?  Is he wiping the
floor with his students in this class to get them to worship his great
powers?  Isn't it likely the book would have included a scene with
this if it was true, since we've seen repeatedly how happy Snape was
teaching potions?

And wanting to be respected for one's talents, even if those are dark
arts, does not mean needing to exert control over others.  Most people
want to be respected for something they are good at.  That's part of
why they become good at things, for recognition, but not necessarily
for power.  And many people happen to be insecure, especially if they
are thwarted from attaining their goals or achieving a position of
trust.  If anything, Snape seems more secure after being given the
DADA position, secure enough to hand out a mild detention without
dissolving into an excess of sarcasm or accusation.

I know that Rowling is supposed to have given Rickman some special
information.  I think this is why there was a scene in POA with him
protecting the Trio from Werewolf Lupin.  I do not know much about the
quote: is it Rickman's interpretation of what he was told who knows
when, or is it something he made up on his own to help him act the
character?  In any event, beyond the part about Snape's insecurity and
envy of Harry (which seems implausible, but who knows), Rickman says,
"He does have his positive side, though, even though Harry's a thorn
in his side, he doesn't let it worry him too much."  So, that seems
good, right?  I wonder what his positive side is?

I think Snape leaving Hogwarts raved about "the Half-Blood Prince" not
because he is a megalomaniac, but because he has just killed someone
he probably valued and is heading into who-knows-what danger, with his
life in a shambles, and here is this kid using a spell Snape invented,
from a book the kid baldly lied to him about possessing.  Just enough
to drive anyone spare, I'd say.

Voldemort is the evil in the story; Snape is something else entirely,
a fascinating puzzle for the imagination, so far.

lealess