Cultural standards, nasty teachers, abused children/ JKR quote new for me

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 144803


La Gatta:
> I have to wonder, as I listent to the "Snape is a child-abuser" 
> ranters ranting, if they think the books would be better if Snape 
were 
> all sweet and sunny and P.C.? If he hand-held poor old Neville 
through 
> potions, and let Hermione strut her stuff every time she stuck her 
> hand up, and said to Harry on the first day of class, "Well, I had 
> some person issues with your dad, but I'll try not to let them get in 
> the way of our relationship, and oh, I thought you weren't paying 
> attention, but I see you were writing down everything I said word for 
> word, yes, I *do* love a conscientious note-taker, so I really do 
> apologize?" Get real, folks. Snape is fascinating because he is the 
> way he is; JKR has created an complex and compelling character, and I 
> think we owe it to her to let her play him out as she sees fit.


Alla:

Nope, definitely not me - I don't want Snape to be sweet and funny as 
the CHARACTER in the story, as JKR's creation. I would love him to do 
some changing though, but that is a different story.

BUT as some people said recently we constantly switching between 
discussing characters as "REAL PEOPLE" so to speak or as  "people who 
do not know that they are in the story" and as looking at them as 
characters.

So, if I look at Snape as "real person" - then YES, absolutely I want 
him to be those things you said, but as character I like him the way he 
is, no question about it and of course for the way he is, I hope JKR 
smacks him and smacks him good at the end of the story.

I see him as  a fascinating villain, not caricature which Voldemort is, 
but complex enough to show that he may even had some good in him, but 
villain nevertheless and since I SEE him as villain, I want him to get 
the proper sues at the end.

Especially since I think JKR will do it anyways. :-)

JMO,

Alla