Snape's canon opposite/ Proving loyalty (Re: Hearing from the Great Middle)

[houyhnhnm102]

No: HPFGUIDX 140268

> vmonte responds:
> 
> What about Snape?
> JKR: Snape is a very sadistic teacher, loosely based on a teacher I 
> myself had, I have to say. I think children are very aware and we are 
> kidding ourselves if we don't think that they are, that teachers do 
> sometimes abuse their power and this particular teacher does abuse 
> his power. He's not a particularly pleasant person at all. However, 
> everyone should keep their eye on Snape, I'll just say that because 
> there is more to him than meets the eye and you will find out part of 
> what I am talking about if you read Book 4. No, I'm not trying to 
> drum up more sales, go to the library and get it out. I'd rather 
> people read it. 
> http://www.quick-quote-quill.org/articles/1999/1099-
> connectiontransc.html

houyhnhnm:

Then she *is* using the word carelessly.  There is a huge difference 
between being "not a particularly pleasant person" and being sadistic.  
The world is full of "not particularly pleasant" people.  Out of all 
the bosses I've had I would have to say more have been not particularly 
pleasant than particularly pleasant. I didn't feel their purpose in 
life was to cause *me* pain however.  That is an immature and self-
centered point of view, common in teenagers and in those whose 
emotional development has been arrested in adolescence.  In other 
words, those who are most upset by the Snapes of this world are those 
who have the most Snape-like qualities themselves.