In Defense of Snape (Against Snape in JKR's words)

[vmonte]

No: HPFGUIDX 122117


Pippin wrote:
...But I think if you've had bad experiences with a RL teacher who 
reminds you of Snape,  they get projected on to the character, and if 
you've had good experiences with a Snape style teacher they get 
projected too. IMO, we'd all like to validate our experiences by 
having Snape get the fate we wish our real life teachers could have 
had.

vmonte responds:
What about Snape?
JKR: Snape is a very sadistic teacher, loosely based on a teacher I
myself had, I have to say. I think children are very aware and we are
kidding ourselves if we don't think that they are, that teachers do
sometimes abuse their power and this particular teacher does abuse
his power. He's not a particularly pleasant person at all..."[WBUR-99]

I guess JKR is projecting her bad experiences with a sadistic power 
abusing teacher onto her character of Snape. 

Vivian :)