looks determining character

[Sherry Gomes]

No: HPFGUIDX 139632

Several times, people have commented that if Snape turns out to be evil, it
would be a terrible lesson to kids, in essence saying, yes, if it looks ugly
it is bad.  i confess this has mystified me for a while, so I had to sit and
think about it a bit.  Most people on this list probably know by now that I
am blind.  I've been that way since I was five, and though I have some
visual memories, they are all tangible things.  I don't remember any faces
at all.  I can't feel your face and tell you what you look like--all I could
tell is if someone has round cheeks, a big nose, eyes large or close
together, things like that.  But that wouldn't put them together in my mind
to tell me whether that person is pretty or ugly.  and I don't care.

So, the visual descriptions in the series haven't registered much on me,
unless it's something tied to something else.  such as, Harry's hair is
messy and black like his father's, and his eyes are green like his mother's.
Even so, if it wasn't for the connection to his parents and the number of
times it's been repeated, I'd have completely tuned it out.  The only other
descriptions I really remember are that Hermione has bushy hair, and all the
Weasleys have red hair.  Dumbledore has a long beard, and Hagrid is nearly
twice the size of a normal man.  I can't even really remember what Sirius or
Lupin look like.

So, i haven't judged the characters on their looks.  Whew, ok, a long
prelude to my point.  I think that those who fear the ugly description of
Snape then him being evil could send a bad message to children might be
forgetting that the big baddie is supposed to be handsome and charming.
Isn't the young Tom riddle described as handsome?  Didn't he have a way of
charming everyone around him, except for Dumbledore?  I remember that,
because I felt kind of squeamish at the descriptions of his charm and good
looks.  It seems to me, that if Snape is evil, we have a baddie who is not
attractive, but in Voldemort, we also have a baddie who is very attractive.
Or at least, he was before he made his transformation.  In fact, other than
the impression we are given that the young Sirius and James are attractive,
is any good guy character presented as particularly stunning?  i know
there's been talk about Ginny being beautiful, but is she?  I don't even
remember that at all.  I do realize that sighted kids might have more focus
and interest in the physical appearance of a character, but I still don't
think the objection in regard to Snape works, since we have Voldemort/Riddle
as our handsome big bad guy.  The kids I know who've read the books and
dislike Snape, dislike him because of his meanness to Harry and Neville.
They've never mentioned his sallow skin or greasy hair.  Just a thought I
had on reading the recent "sexy Snape" posts.

sherry
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