Snape, Hagrid and Animals

[Sydney]

No: HPFGUIDX 143799

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> va32h:
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> 
> Are we supposed to hate 
> Hagrid, and not care what happens to him, because he's a bad teacher? 
> Is Draco's injury supposed to make him more sympathetic? (if so, the 
> author failed on both counts, as I neither dislike Hagrid more nor 
> like Draco more after the Buckbeak incident). 


But nobody, absolutely nobody, has argued that anyone should hate
Hagrid!  Several of us arguing about his responsibility for Draco's
injury have repeatedly said how much we LIKE Hagrid as a person.  The
whole point of this thread is, is there any blame to Hagrid for what
happened to Draco? Can we not love Hagrid, not be too fond of Draco,
and still think the hippogryph class was a disaster waiting to happen?

There is no point in trying to argue people into or out of liking or
hating a character.  It's quite simply a matter of one's personality
and background and what they find personally more appealing.  I like
both Snape and Hagrid a great deal. I also think Snape is the teacher
I would personally much prefer-- he reminds me of my current coach who
is by no means to everybody's taste but if you let the yelling and
insults roll over you, I've learned more from her than from the
cuddlier teachers I've had who let me get lazy.  On the other hand I
would never recommend her to a sensitive soul.   

Regarding the comparison of Hagrid and Snape as teachers, to be fair
to Hagrid it IS only his first lesson as a teacher.  I would pay money
to watch Snape's first Potion's lesson-- what was he, 21 years old? 
The spectacle of young double-agent Dark wizard Severus in charge of a
classroom of 11-year-olds is ... mezmerizing.

-- Sydney