Hero types / Why Snape must ultimately be a hero

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 152011

> >>Potioncat:
> > <snip> 
> > In another thread Snape is offered up as a hero type. I know    
> > Harry as hero of a genre (with the genre being in dispute) has   
> > come up. But has anyone ever considered that we might end up     
> > with several literary types of heroes? 
> > Is the series big enough for that?

> >>Pippin:
> It's long been a pet theory of mine that we have three literary   
> types of heroes in HP. 
> We have Harry, the epic hero. 
> <snip of Epic hero definition>

Betsy Hp:
So, this would be Harry as King Arthur, right?  I totally agree with 
that. 

> >>Pippin:
> We have Ron, the romantic hero.
> <snip of Romantic hero definition>

Betsy Hp:
Ron as Han Solo?  That's a really tempting thought.  Based on the 
romance part of the definition I can get that.  However, I'm not 
sure I'd say that Ron is the bottom of the social heap.  His family 
is poor, but they're purebloods and very much connected to their 
society's powerbase.  (The British social system rather than the 
American.)

Actually, Hermione may better fit that particular discription.  
As a muggleborn she's certainly starting at the bottom.  Though I'm 
not sure either she or Ron could really be billed as "Heroes".  I 
mean, they *are* heroic, yes, but I think they're supposed to be 
more of a support system for Harry (the "real hero") rather than 
carry a story line all on their own.

> >>Pippin:
> Then we have Snape, the anti-hero.
> <snip of anit-hero definition>

Betsy Hp:
Snape as Casablanca's Rick Blaine, hmmm.  I do think Snape is the 
series' other hero.  He's the antithesis of Harry, his shadow I 
suppose.  Except, I'm not sure Snape is really as disconnected from 
actually being a hero that the anti-hero requires.  Compared to Rick 
Blaine, Snape is *far* more active in bringing down the enemy than 
Rick was.  I suppose Snape is the sort of hero Rick becomes once the 
credits to Casablanca roll, but at that point it could be argued 
that Rick is moving out of the anti-hero role himself.  I think.  
Though I might not be getting exactly what the anti-hero is.

Here are some other thought on what hero definition fits Snape:

> >>Randy:
> [working with the definitions of this web site:  
http://www.fellowshipofreason.com/archives/4heroes.htm ]

> <snip>
> "The classical hero, he is of royal birth or even... half mortal   
> and half god."  A Half blood Prince seems to fit the bill.

Betsy Hp:
Well, being a half-blood is sort of like being a halfbreed or a 
bastard.  At least in the eyes of those who care about such things.  
Which the classical hero does.  Actually, *Harry* is the better 
classical hero than Snape.  His blood line is a bit better.  (His 
mom was magical at least.)  Though, honestly, I doubt it's pure 
enough to measure up to the classical ideal.

Looking through that list of definitions I think Snape fits more 
under the Romantic Hero.  I'll hit on some of the main requirements:

"Birth and class are unimportant"  Well, as a halfblood of what 
appears to be a working (or maybe not even that) class family, 
Snape's birth and class are certainly not an obvious advantage for 
him.  So that fits.

"The battle is internal" Snape, much more so than Harry, has had to 
struggle with who he is.  Becoming a Death Eater in spite of his 
birth, becoming Dumbledore's man in spite of his friends.  I'd say 
these are signs of an internal struggle.

"Passions are outside of individual control"  Hello!  I don't think 
I even have to discuss this one. <G>

"The hero is moody, isolated and introspective"  Another nice pocket 
definition of Snape, I think.  

"Loyalty is to a particular project and to a community of like-
minded others"  Hmm, I'm not sure on this one.  I tend to see Snape 
as more personally loyal to Dumbledore.  Though, I think that 
loyalty is there because Snape believes in what Dumbledore is 
fighting for.  He's not struck me as particularly loyal to other 
Order members, but I think he is loyal to what the Order stands 
for.  So I guess that fits too.

This particular definition says that the Romantic Hero is a type of 
anti-hero.  So going back to Pippin's definition:

> >>Pippin:
> <snip>
> They don't resemble heroes in any way -- except that when their   
> internal code demands it, they will risk everything to save a weak 
> or innocent person from harm.

Betsy Hp:
I do agree that Snape's personal code includes protecting the 
innocent or weak.  We see that in PS/SS and most especially in HBP 
where his healing talents are displayed.  What hangs me up is this:

> >>Pippin:
> <snip>
> ...they are dishonest, cynical and disillusioned.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
While I do see Snape as cynical and disillusioned, I'm not sure I'd 
call him dishonest.  Beyond what's required of him as a spy I mean.

> >>Sherry:
> Can you show me any canon to support the idea that Snape is       
> tortured inside?
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
We never see inside Snape's head, so obviously there's nothing to 
prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Snape is tortured.  But there 
are moments in canon that do support the idea.

The first that comes to mind is in CoS when Snape grips the 
chairback when he's told Ginny has been taken by the monster.  That 
signals some sort of emotional turmoil going on inside, IMO.

When Dumbledore sends Snape back to Voldemort at the end of GoF I'd 
say there's some internal emotion going on there too.  Snape's eyes 
glitter strangely, and Dumbledore's own reaction suggest that Snape 
is not embarking on an easy task.  So I see that as a time when 
Snape is under some emotional stress (or torture, if you will).

The most obvious is at the end of HBP when Snape is compared to an 
animal being burned alive.  Since Snape isn't being physically 
injured at that time, I put that down to emotional torture.

And, while this one will be more controversial, I count Snape's look 
of hatred and revulsion when he throws the killing curse at 
Dumbledore to be evidence of internal and self-directed feeling.  
IOWs the hatred and revulsion is for himself.  Which again points to 
internal torture.

Again, all of these moments can be argued.  But if Snape is DDM, 
than I think these interpertations make sense.

Betsy Hp