Of Sorting and Snape

[lizzyben04]

No: HPFGUIDX 175222

Judy: 
I agree with your comments that JKR seems to be saying some kids are
damned from the get-go. It bothers me that this directly contradicts
her (or at least Dumbledore's) claim that one can chose one's
destiny. However, I have to disagree with your evaluation of Snape.
He is NOT always portrayed as doing something bad. For starters, he
stops Quirrell from cursing Harry, he saves Draco from dying when
Harry curses him, he saves Dumbledore from the ring curse, and he
tells Crabbe (or was it Goyle?) to stop choking Neville. And of
course, he warns Dumbledore about Voldemort hunting the Potters. All
of this happened after leaving Slytherin House, though, and under the
influence of Gryffindors (Lily and Dumbledore), which I believe
supports my view that Slytherin House is corrupting.

lizzyben:

Oh, I definitely agree that Snape is portrayed as doing good things
throughout the course of the novels. I just meant that in the
"Prince's Tale" chapter, every one of Snape's childhood memories shows
him doing something "bad" - from the nine-year old dropping a branch
on Petunia, to insulting Muggles, to defending future Death Eaters.
It's one of the places where I could almost here the Author's Voice in
the background saying "See, see, he was a bad kid from the get-go!" 
I almost felt like it was deliberately included to try to forestall
reader sympathy for this neglected little boy, & encourage us to see
him as a lost cause. And probably that's where my sympathy for Snape
arises. I mean, even the author doesn't love him or want him. Poor guy.


va32h:
I don't think it is any coincidence that Snape and Sirius are
actually very much alike. Both fiercely loyal to a friend (Lily,
James), both consumed with guilt"

lizzyben:

I just wanted to add one other similarity - they are the ONLY
characters that actually offer a sincere apology. Both Snape & Sirius
tell their friends "I'm sorry", w/total humility. Man, that's rare in
these novels.