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

[vmonte]

No: HPFGUIDX 122139


>Betsy wrote:
Hopefully I've made clear by now that I do not consider interviews
with actors to be canon (though they are interesting). Please show
me something in the books that illustrates Snape's jealousy of Harry.

vmonte responds: You're kidding, right? 

>Betsy: And Harry as popular? He's known - but he spends quite a bit 
of time, in just about every book, being mocked or feared or 
ridiculed by the Hogwarts students. Why would Snape envy that?<

vmonte responds:
Your reasoning is the way "we," the readers, see Harry. 
Unfortunately, Snape does not see the "real" Harry, he sees James. He 
is blinded by his prejudice and hatred of James. He cannot let go of 
the past--and it will eventually kill him.  This is not the sign of 
someone who has had a moral epiphany, IMO.

>vmonte again: We do have cannon that suggests that Snape is a
racist. After all he did join the DEs, and he did call Lily a nasty
name. I often find that racists are very frightened people. They fear
what they don't understand.<

>Betsy:
The canon suggest that Snape *was* a racist. There is nothing in his
current actions to suggest that he is a racist now.

vmonte responds: Really, I think his actions towards Hermione are 
suspect. Why treat a student who obviously is a good student and who 
works hard, like garbage? Oh let me guess, insufferable know-it-alls 
deserve to be put in their place too, right?  

Please, it obviously doesn't matter to you that I'm quoting directly 
from JKR.  Her comments don't just say that Snape is a moody grouch; 
she specifically calls him a "deeply horrible person." As far as 
Rickman goes, JKR has told him important information regarding his 
character and his future role in the story.  

Besides, the Lexicon considers JKR's interviews to be canon, and why 
not, she did after all write these books.  

http://www.hp-lexicon.org/about/sources/site_sources.html

Vivian