The Case Against Snape

[urghiggi]

No: HPFGUIDX 133081

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "greg_a126" <grega126 at a...> wrote:
> So how is it, exactly, that the DE's in Azkaban knew that Pettigrew was 
> a spy, but the DE's out of Azkaban (Snape,  specifically) didn't.  
> Snape did, but chose not to tell Dumbledore b/c he didn't need to, his 
> freedom was already assured.  The only reason Snape wouldn't tell 
> Dumbledore that Pettigrew was the spy and Sirius wasn't is b/c he's 
> still a loyal DE.
> 
> grega126


My main difficulty with ESE!Snape is that I don't think all the "snape is awful" evidence in 
HBP is at all characteristic of JKR's plot-development style so far, if we are truly intended 
to take it at face value.

it's a very clunky exposition in terms of being SOOO ironclad/obvious -- all those 
questions answered in chapter 2, bambambam -- two whole big books still to go. The 
nature of Snape is one of the pivotal plot mysteries of the entire series.... do we really 
believe JKR's going to reveal the mystery at what is (still) a relatively early point?

I think it's POSSIBLE that the answer is simple -- that all is as it appears,that Dumbledore 
was deluded and that Snape is merely wicked (vs. highly flawed but somehow good). That 
perhaps the lesson is ... i dunno, trust but verify??  However, if the answer is that simple 
-- if all IS as it appears in HBP -- it will make JKR a lesser craftsperson than most of us 
believe her to be. This, rather than anything in canon, is what makes me give credence to 
the "there's still more to Snape" theory. 

Having both Snape and Draco appear in Book 7, playing some critical but highly 
unexpected role, wittingly or unwittingly, in the defeat of LV -- this to me would be more 
characteric of her pattern as a writer, in terms of the plot twists she's presented us with so 
far.

I do think that there's some possibility that Snape IS Evil but will somehow do something 
that make the defeat of LV possible, even if this is not what he intends. (Something like 
Gollum at Mount Doom, destroying the Ring unintentionally.) This to me would be less 
interesting than a twist/redemption, but would satisfy those who complain the evidence of 
Snape's wickedness is now incontrovertible.

Re the complaints that he is sadistic/not nice. Certainly that's absolutely true -- but is 
"nice" the same as "good" (or "mean" the same as "evil")? I think Snape truly dislikes harry 
and hated james ... but whether this is connected to him being a wholehearted death eater 
remains to be seen. Certainly, hating Harry but still wanting to get rid of LV (for whatever 
reason, remorse being the supposed motivator) ... and knowing that Harry's the one who 
will make this happen ... would be a pretty interesting state for Snape to be in....

Julie H, chicago