[HPforGrownups] Hero types was Re: Another Snape thread/ Snape as hero

[Joe Goodwin]

No: HPFGUIDX 152022

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. Epic heroes defend a nation or a culture
from an external threat, they exemplify all of its virtues, they are 
of good family and high social standing (though  at the beginning of 
the story they may have become displaced), their true loves recognize 
their virtue from the beginning and never seriously consider anyone 
else, and the love interest is a secondary plot line and may not 
exist at all.
   
  Joe:
  Yeah that one is fairly easy to see. 

Pippin:
We have Ron, the romantic hero. Romantic heroes start at the bottom
of the social heap, the threats they face are internal to their 
society, and by defeating them  the hero  rises  to achieve fame, 
fortune and true love. Their love interest is likely to despise them 
at first and proving themselves in order to win her is a primary plot 
line.
   
  Joe:
  This is easy to see as well though I think that maybe Ron and 
Hermione might be a combined romantic hero. You can see each as being 
at the bottom of the social ladder in their respective ways. In a way 
they are winning each other. 

Pippin:
  Then we have Snape, the anti-hero. Anti-heroes fly in the face of
*almost* everything that heroes stand for <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.

Joe:
  Will Snape risk everything to save a weak or innocent person from 
harm? I think maybe that's a stretch even for DDM!Snape. There are 
several reasons Snape could be working for the Order faithfully and 
in only a couple would he be considered a hero.
   
  Personally I think it will be just as weak an ending if Snape turns 
out to be a hero as if he turned out to be rotten through and 
through. A Snape that is looking out for himself yet still working 
against Voldemort just strikes me as having more depth. It also 
strikes me as more true to his nature but that is just my opinion.
   
  Joe