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

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 122144


>>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:
Um, okay. Congratulations on channeling your inner Snape! <g>  I'm 
not sure why what I said is a joke.  If the interviews you cited 
meant what you think they mean, there should be examples in the text 
that further back your theory.  Since you were unable to find 
anything from the books (all five of them) I'll assume you concede 
that Snape is not jealous of Harry? 
 
>>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.

Betsy:
I disagree that only we, the readers, see how Harry is viewed by the 
WW.  Harry's treatment by his fellow students are pretty public.  
Sometimes there's badges. :)  I agree that Snape does see James in 
Harry and this has been a major block for Snape seeing through to 
Harry's true motivations.  He generally expects the worst of Harry.  
However, I don't go so far to say Snape hates Harry as he hated 
James.  I agree that Snape needs to make peace with his past.  PoA 
and all of his interactions with Lubin and Black show what a raw 
wound it is for him.  (I hope it doesn't kill him though!)  But I do 
think it was a moral epiphany that took Snape out of Voldemort's camp 
and into Dumbledore's.  Moral epiphanies do not create perfect human 
beings, they set them on a better path. (At least in my opinion - and 
that's how I'm using the phrase.)
 
>>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?<

Betsy:
I think you're confusing me with Snape. :)  I quite like Hermione.  
She does annoy the hell out of Snape though.  But not because she's 
muggle born.  She's cheated, she's spoken out of turn, and she's 
tried to correct him while he was speaking.  Not wise things to do 
with the scary teacher.  (Though I give her big  props for bravery.)

>>vmonte:
>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.<

Betsy:
I'm just saying that if your only canon is off-the-cuff interviews 
rather then examples from the books it's not enough for me.  Plus, I 
feel like I've shown how the interview quotes you used can also back 
up my view of Snape as a nasty, scary, teacher who knows his stuff 
and is a boon to the side of light.  I did not just out and out 
dismiss them - I pointed out (or tried to anyway) that they can mean 
many different things.  JKR is very, very careful about what she 
reveals in her interviews so as to not spoil books not published.  
And especially with a character like Snape, who is still on a journey 
and about whom I hope we have more to learn, I think JKR will say as 
little as possible.  (Which I think she did in her interviews.)

Betsy, who really hopes none of this is being taken personally.