Hearing from the Great Middle

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 140104

I was looking at the current results of Susan's poll, and I find 
them very interesting.  It appears that roughly 25% of respondents 
are pretty certain Snape is Good, approximately 10% are certain 
Snape is evil, and the other roughly 2/3 of us are reluctant to come 
down on either side, either because we want to reserve judgment or 
because we think Snape will not, in the end, be clearly on one side 
or the other.

I'm interested in hearing from this 2/3.  We have seen multiple and 
vehement arguments from the die-hards on either end of the spectrum, 
but not all that much with regard to the great middle.  What factors 
are keeping people from passing judgment, or what factors are 
convincing people that Snape probably won't come down firmly on 
either side?

I personally think the evidence is so muddled and contradictory that 
I don't dare make any kind of prediction.  Part of that is JKR's 
deliberate doing, and part probably isn't.  Bless her heart, JKR 
just isn't always very clear and consistent, even when she wants to 
be (shipping anyone?).  I suspect about half of the mystery around 
Snape has been deliberately created by the author, and the other 
half arises from circumstances that JKR thinks are perfectly 
straightforward but which don't appear so to the fandom.

Having said that, I do believe that, from the standpoint of plot and 
literary merit, it makes a lot more sense for Snape not to be 
completely on any side but his own.  Any other solution is 1) 
extremely boring (the "you mean that's it?" factor would be pretty 
high in either case) as it essentially means that either Dumbledore 
was a fool or Harry was wrong about Snape yet again -- which, by the 
way, also involves a large element of Dumbledore being a fool for 
not acting vigorously to defuse the ill-feeling between his two most 
valuable supporters -- both of which are yawners, 2) leaves all sort 
of contradictions and gaping plot holes unexplained, and 3) reduces 
potentially very complex characters and interactions to 
unbelievable, preachy, and frankly silly formulas. (Snape being ESE 
for sixteen years under DD's naive and trusting nose? Dumbledore 
sacrificing himself after a rushed legilemency conversation atop the 
tower?  Noble Snape deliberately sacrificing his father-figure to 
the cause? Dumbledore deliberately plotting to die in advance, even 
to the extent of sternly ordering Snape to carry out the deed? 
Please, give me a break.)

But that's just me.  I'm interested in hearing what other members of 
the Great Middle think.

Lupinlore