Ambiguous Snape (was:Sadistic Teachers (was:Re: Teaching Styles)

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 148163

> >>Nora:
> I stand by my reading of Snape as a sadist in the "enjoys the 
> discomfort of others" meaning, which means I don't have to do      
> the "oh JKR didn't mean it" tap dance. :) 

Betsy Hp:
And here I am thinking I'm just enjoying *her* dancing. <g>

> >>Nora:
> But I think there's something interesting here, which I'd argue   
> for (and have repeatedly): 
> While JKR is often quite ambiguous about actions and events, so as 
> not to give away the plot, she's rarely been too ambiguous about   
> her evaluation of the fundamental character of her characters.     
> She's never been terribly cagey about Snape on that front.  She's 
> continually hammered at the "Who on earth would want Snape in love 
> with them," saying she hesitates to say that she loves him, saying 
> he's a sadistic teacher, ad nauseam.  
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
Ad nauseam?  Really?  I thought she's said it like, once or twice.  
(Though, I tend to read her interviews once and then move on, so I 
could be wrong.)  And I would classify that particular answer about 
who'd want Snape to love them as *very* cagey.  What does it even 
mean?  Does it mean he's bad luck and if he loves you you may well 
turn up dead?  Does it mean that he's a horrible date?

And why does she hesitate to say she loves him?  Because he's 
eeevil?  Because she does love him, but she doesn't want to give 
away that he's really a good guy because then she'll be asked, why 
and she'll have to say, read book 7 and find out and give away a 
plot twist?

I honestly don't see that JKR has *ever* openly evaluated Snape's 
character.  Instead she answers questions with questions or gives 
rather slippery answers, or really obvious answers ("Snape's a very 
strict teacher.  He can be quite unfair."  Oh really, Jo?  Thanks 
for the insight. <g>)  Especially compared to how she chats about 
what makes Sirius tick and how Dumbledore tackles a problem.

> >>Nora:
> I guess it's just hard for many listies to reconcile the idea that 
> Snape might be and remain presented as a thoroughly nasty and 
> unpleasant person in his character, but still have some major plot 
> role that JKR wants kept under wraps until the end. :)
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
Especially after the great Slytherin book that was HBP. <g>  Not 
that I think Snape will turn out to be a big fluffy bunny in the end 
(*that* would be an unpleasant surprise), but I doubt he's just a 
walking "mean teacher" cliche either.  There's too much tragedy in 
him.  And I think JKR is much more character oriented than she's 
given credit for.  I mean, she is a plot writer, that's true.  But 
her characters, especially her main characters, have far too much 
life to them to just be players in an elaborate mouse trap, IMO.

And then there's the surprise element.  I just can't see her going 
for a fizzle when there's a boom to be had.  If Snape isn't 
operating out of a genuine loyalty or even love for Dumbledore then 
there won't be much there to knock Harry for a loop.  And I'm 
positive Harry has a loop or two coming for him.  

Harry related to the half-blood Prince he met in the Potions book.  
JKR drove it home again and again that the two of them really 
understood each other on a level Harry and Ron couldn't even reach.  
Any evaluation of Snape's character has to include the boy Harry met 
in his text-book.  The surface Snape has presented to Harry as his 
teacher doesn't include it, and neither does JKR's faints and dodges 
in her answers about Snape in her interviews.

Betsy Hp