Snape and Raistlin Majere

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 126800


>>Phoenixgod: 
<snip>
>What makes Snape so contempable to me and many other people, while 
similar literary characters can be just as dark and bitter and yet 
still remain sympathetic and understandable--even in their own way 
likeable.
<snip>
>For those of you who've read both series or another series with a 
Snape like character, what seperates Snape from them to make him 
either more or less likeable and sympathetic?<

Betsy:
So I've been away for a while on horrible, icky, ugly, RL business, 
but this question was too intriguing for me to pass up.  Especially 
since so few (if any?) Snape fans replied.

Because I totally understand the attraction to a character who has 
not had it easy.  Someone who made some wrong choices and now has to 
pay for them.  And especially the attraction to a character with the 
quick sardonic wit JKR has so lovingly bestowed upon Snape.  (Come 
on, love him or hate him, you have to admit Snape gets the best 
lines.  Is it any wonder he's JKR's favorite character to write?)

I haven't read the dragonlance series, and am not familier with 
Raistlin Majere.  Though he sounds like most of the characters in 
Glenn Cook's Black Company series (which my husband *loves* but 
became a bit too nihilistic for my tastes).  Snape has certainly 
seen the worst human nature has to offer during his time as a Death 
Eater (and under the hands of James and Sirius - did anyone else see 
a potential rape scene there?)  And Snape made the rather heroic 
decision to turn his back on the winning side and join with the 
losers, so he's got the redemption thing going on too.

But there's something else I love about Snape, that I have a 
sneaking suspicion is probably the very reason others hate him.  
(Yeah, I'm not thinking I'll be changing any minds here.  Maybe 
clarifying a few things?)  And it's got everything to do with my 
attitude towards children.  I do like kids.  Cute, sweet, etc., 
etc.,  But also capable of mind-boggling cruelty and very much 
needing a touch of strict discipline and some unbending rules.  
Otherwise - chaos.

Snape has a similar view.  He's not there to be the children's best 
friend, or to help them unleash their creativity, or worried about 
scarring their poor fragile minds <insert sarcasm tone here>.  He's 
there to teach potions.  And if he has to pound the knowledge into 
their thick, clumsy skulls (hello, Neville) than that's what he'll 
do.  I admire that.  (Not that I wouldn't have been scared crapless 
of Snape if he was my teacher - but I think I'd have appreciated his 
methods a few years down the road.  As I do with my very Snape-like 
fourth grade teacher, secretly referred to as Mrs. Hitler by her 
students.)  Snape's old-world, old-school, way of teaching is like a 
breath of fresh air for me.  I also, don't think Snape is nearly as 
unfair as Harry and friends like to think he is.

Yes, he's got a special place in his heart for his Slytherins.  And 
yes, he's got a not-so-nice place in his heart for Gryffindors 
(thank you James and Sirius).  However, the times he disciplines 
Harry, Harry has usually done something to deserve Snape's wrath.  
And quite frankly, if Hogwarts had a strict honor code, Hermione and 
Neville would have been expelled a long time ago.  There's no way 
that I can imagine Snape condoning cheating.

Snape is not a nice man.  And he certainly doesn't coddle his 
class.  But he's not required to do either of those things.  He's 
required to teach potions.  Which he does admirably well.  (I think 
Harry will be very surprised with how well he does on his Potions' 
OWL, because I think Snape has made a habit of demanding far more 
from his students than the OWL's do.)  And I *like* that part of 
Snape.

So while I think Snape's teaching methods and the way he treats 
Harry and Co. turn many people off the man, it's this very thing 
that pulls me towards him.  From his opening sneer about Hogwarts' 
new celebrity in PS/SS to the final 10 points taken in OotP Snape is 
a compelling character that I love to watch.  May the final two 
books include many, many scenes with Snape.

Betsy, who's so thrilled to be back, you don't even know.