Young men/bad decisions (was Re: The "choosing evil" difference

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 126504


Potioncat:
> June 1978 Severus Snape graduates from Hogwarts (18 years old)
> 1980/81 ??? Regulus Black tries to leave DEs and is killed (19/20?)
> 1980/81 Severus becomes spy for Dumbledore (20/21?)
> Sep/Nov 1981 joins Hogwarts staff (21 years old)
> 
> Regulus seems to have some respect from fandom because he died 
> trying to leave the DEs.  So why is Snape seen differently? 


SSSusan:
Interesting observation about the timing of two DEs' defections.  
And a fair enough question about why many fans see Snape differently 
than they see Regulus.  

I wonder if the difference isn't that, while we know little about 
Snape, we know even less about Regulus?  We don't know how things 
would've turned out had he lived after deserting Voldy & the DEs, 
but it's fairly easy (and rather fun) to imagine that he might've 
done good things, been noble, all of that.  Whereas with Snape, we 
know exactly how things have turned out (on the surface, anyway) 
because we *see* him post-Voldy-desertion, and it isn't exactly a 
pretty picture!  He's a nasty, snarky, mean-spirited, petty, 
vindictive bullier of *kids.*  

In short, it's much easier to credit an unknown Regulus for his 
bravery & to fantasize about what he might've been than to credit 
Snape for his bravery when we see his limitations & weaknesses all 
the time.

Siriusly Snapey Susan