Eeevil!Snape was Snape in Shrieking Shack

[juli17 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 142406

 
Nora wrote:

What  about all the hints of resentment, and the theme of obsession with 
the  past and practically Nietzschean _ressentiment_?  It's certainly 
been  foreshadowed that Snape has something of a hard time dealing with 
some of  Dumbledore's decisions, but he manages to keep a lid on them 
(to varying  degrees).  Then very thematically relevant becomes how one 
*deals*  with lingering pain and anger and grudges.  If we go with the 
Harry  in temptation theme, then Snape could be a powerful 
counterexample--how  *not* to deal.  This could operate even if Snape is 
genuinely evil,  in that Harry needs not to be caught up in his anger 
and resentment and  let it govern his actions.



Julie:
As you note, this can be true if Snape is genuinely evil, but it can
also be true if Snape is conflicted--i.e., a man who has difficulty 
controlling his urges to do mean/bad/evil things, yet manages to
act for the side of Good. The difference is, the second incarnation
is infinitely more interesting and more complex (and more human,
IMO). Evil!Snape just ends up being one-note, no matter what his
motivations (which remain the standard ones--anger, resentment, 
and pain over his perceived mistreatment). But if he can battle  the
anger, resentment and pain that push him toward evil, and come
out on the side of Good, then he becomes a richer, more textured 
character. (Besides, there are plenty of one-note evil characters--
Voldemort, Umbridge, Greyback, Wormtail, Bellatrix, et al--so 
why bother building up so much mystery around Snape if it's 
going to amount to essentially nothing?)
 
And whether he is ultimately Good or Evil, I don't think there is 
any doubt Snape is a powerful counterexample to Harry on how
not to deal. Snape's anger and resentment led him to ally with  evil,
which no doubt tainted his soul and left him seeking a  redemption
that may take his life (literally) to achieve, and still  won't completely
wash away the damage he's done to himself and to others. That's
a pretty miserable existence in itself. And since Snape bears it
with little outward grace, even more reason Harry will learn that  lesson 
well. 
 
Julie 


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